NAPERVILLE – Salil Khanduja acted anything unlike a freshman in Waubonsie Valley boys golf’s loss to Naperville North on Wednesday.
On the third hole, Khanduja set himself up for a five-foot putt for birdie, but ended up three-putting for double-bogey. His father had just arrived on the fourth hole, and Khanduja told him about his misfortune.
From that point on, Khanduja recovered and shot an even-36 at Springbrook Golf Course in Naperville, including a birdie putt to finish the ninth hole.
“I completely changed the dynamic of my stroke. I was kind of getting used to it, but that’s not the excuse,” said Khanduja. “I just told myself, ‘I practiced so hard this week. I just got to trust it. Stop thinking about the mechanics, and start thinking about making putts.'”
Kenton Esch and Caiden Atwater followed up with a 7-over-43. Alex Wiley and Lalith Vattyam shot an 8-over-44.
The Warriors compete next in the DuPage Valley Conference tournament at Blackberry Oaks on Monday.