LHS Golfer Places Fifth At IHSA State Finals

LEMONT, IL — Lemont High School sophomore Paulius Malcius placed fifth at the 2019 IHSA Class 2A Boys’ Golf State Finals, which were contested Oct. 18-19 at Weibring Golf Club at Illinois State University in Normal. The school said Malcius is just the fifth golfer in program history to earn a medal in state finals competition.

According to LHS, Malcius was steady throughout the event, and finished the 36-hole event by shooting an even par 142 (70-72) on the par-71 course. Malcius was tied for third after the first round after shooting a -1 70 that featured four birdies. In the final round, he totaled two birdies on his way to a +1 72.

Malcius earned his state finals berth thanks to a seventh place finish at the IHSA Hinsdale South Sectional Oct. 14. He posted a +4 76 at Prairie Bluff Golf Course in Lockport, tying for seventh overall and third among golfers whose teams did not qualify for state finals team competition, the school said. The top three teams from each of the IHSA’s four Class 2A Sectionals advanced to state finals competition, along with the top 10 individuals from schools that did not qualify for state finals team competition. Head coach Mark Hollatz’s team placed ninth.

In 2018, Malcius also became the first boys’ golfer in school history to qualify for the state finals as an individual in his freshman season. Prior to this season, the school said Lemont had qualified for IHSA state finals team competition ten times in the previous 13 seasons.