Elletts lead Hampshire to regional title
The Hampshire girls golf program completed a four-year journey from nowhere to hardware Wednesday.
Led by medalist Connie Ellett's 1-over-par 74 and runner-up Taylor Ellett's 78, the four-year-old program earned its first title, edging Barrington by 3 strokes to win the Class AA Prairie Ridge regional at Prairie Isle Golf Club in Prairie Grove.
The Whip-Purs' team score of 347 denied the Fillies (350) their eighth straight regional title. The Crystal Lake Central co-op finished third (353).
“To tell you the truth I wasn't really expecting it, said Taylor Ellett, who took a moment to compose herself after learning her team had won. “This is kind of a shock. For us to win ... Connie and I have played really well this year and a lot of girls have really contributed.
The Whip-Purs were able to win the team title, thanks to contributing scores of 92 from senior Jessie Van Dorin and 104 from junior Grace Jakubowski. Neither girl had ever played golf until the summer before their freshman year, but each learned the sport in order to establish Hampshire's first girls golf team alongside the talented Ellett sisters.
“Van Dorin her freshman year shot an 81 on 9 holes and now she shoots 92 for 18, Taylor Ellett said in astonishment. “That is unbelievable to me. I couldn't do that when I first started playing.
“It's really rewarding, said Van Dorin, who lowered her personal best by 2 strokes. “I never thought I'd be able to break 100 my freshman year because I was really bad. But I've worked hard.
Connie Ellett, a junior, stuck her approach on No. 18 within 8 feet of the cup and calmly sank a birdie putt to put the cherry atop her first individual regional title. Earlier, on No. 12, she chipped out of the rough above the green to within three inches of the hole.
“It's exciting because I'm only a junior, Connie Ellett said of becoming a regional champion. “It feels good. I'm always cheering for Taylor, too, but it's nice to win.
Though the regional title streak ended for Barrington, the team goal of qualifying for the state meet remains very much alive.
“We survived to play Monday, and that's the name of the game, Barrington hall-of-fame coach Jodi Schoeck said of the sectional at Ingersoll Golf Course in Rockford. “It was really close, 3 strokes. That could have happened anywhere.
Senior Laura Palarz led the Fillies by carding an 80, her lowest career score for 18 holes.
“It was a little windy out there and that threw me off on some of the par-5s because I'm not a really long hitter, Palarz said, “but other than that it was really solid out there, I think.
Kelly Muskat (84), Sammy Carman (91) and Casey Hahn (95) were the other low scorers for the Fillies.
The CL Central coop was led by Central freshman Lexi Harkins (82), who won the Fox Valley Conference title last week, Cary-Grove's Amalia Emma (83) and Michelle Schock (94) and Amanda Willis from Crystal Lake South (94).
“I didn't expect to do that well, said Emma, who shot 38 on the front nine. “I was hoping for this. We're really hoping to get to state this year.
The top 10 individuals not on a winning team also advanced to next week's sectional, including: Prairie Ridge sophomores Danielle Roulo (84), Delainey Peterson (84), Robin Manarik (85) and Michelle Nalepa (100), Conant sophomore Jackie Halden (94), Schaumburg sophomore Emily Santucci (96), freshman Nikki Callahan from Hoffman Estates (100), senior Kelsey Woloszyk from Jacobs (101) and Lake Zurich seniors Gina McCoy (103) and Kelly McGuire (103).
Halden made par on the par-3 eighth hole by using a 9-iron to clear the water
“It's an honor, Halden said of moving beyond the regional “I'm so excited. I want to go out there and do well at sectionals.
Santucci reached sectional play for the first time.
“My driving was really good and that helped the most out of anything, said Santucci, who birdied the par-5, 475-yard 10th hole. “I just tried to have a really positive attitude, and I think I did pretty good.
Woloszyk, who qualified out of a regional for the first time one week after earning all-FVC honors, called the result “pretty sweet.
McCoy and McGuire were both thrilled to see their high school playing careers extended by at least five more days. McCoy took inspiration from her bracelet, on which was written the phrase “it's all good.
“Every shot I would just say ‘it's all good,' and it worked, McCoy said. “Hopefully, it works for the sectional, too.
Neither Lake Zurich golfer entered the meet expecting to advance.
“It's pretty cool to be able to move on because I did not think I would at all, McGuire said. “I thought today would be the last day of golf of my high school career.