WW South wins 4th straight DVC title
Tuesday was an example of why the high school golf season starts early and ends early.
Fall weather, cool and rainy, continued and made itself comfortable at Phillips Park Golf Course in Aurora, and it made things interesting for the athletes gathered for the DuPage Valley Conference girls golf tournament.
When it was all said and done, Wheaton Warrenville South went home with its fourth straight league title plaque. The Tigers shot a 333 on Tuesday, earning them 15 points, which was added to their 14 points earned during the DVC regular-season dual meets for a total of 29.
Naperville North (357) and Naperville Central (370) finished second and third, respectively, in the tournament but will tie for second overall in the final standings, each with 22.
The Tigers carried the momentum earned by Saturday’s second-place 328 at the Naperville North Rosie Invitational, just 13 strokes behind Hinsdale Central, last season’s third-place Class AA finisher.
“The girls have played well all year but have struggled all year with 18-hole tournaments,” WW South coach Art Tang said. “They played well today. The conditions were challenging. The front nine was slow.”
Medalist honors went to Tigers senior Emily Johnson, who shot 39 each on the front and back nine for a 78.
“I’m real excited about this. I came out and just tried to do my best,” she said of her best round ever. “I usually don’t play well in the cold and rain. I’m surprised how I played.”
Teammate Renee Solberg shot a 38 on the front nine for a 79 and second place. She ended the front nine and began the back nine with birdies.
“I didn’t do well with iron shots. I was chunking shots. But I putted well,” the junior said.
She added that her team’s purpose going into Tuesday was pretty basic.
“Coming in undefeated in the DVC, we just wanted to keep the momentum going and play well,” Solberg said.
Another Tiger in the top 10 was freshman Kelly Anderson, whose 81 tied her for fourth place with Naperville Central’s Sarah DeGeeter.
The top finisher for Naperville North was sophomore Taylor Arenson with an 80 for third place.
“It was a good day. The greens were a little slow, but I was making good contact with the the ball,” she said. “I feel good (going into regionals). My putting has progressed and my swing has been consistent.”
Two of Arenson’s teammates made the top 10 — sophomores Christine Grzesiak placed eighth with a 90 and Caroline Pierson was with a 91.
Naperville Central’s DeGeeter was joined in the top 10 by teammate Hannah Zeeb. The senior shot an 84 for seventh place.
“Obviously, the rain was a factor. It was very on and off. You had to react to the weather a lot. It was wet ground and people were chunking shots and that adds on an extra stroke,” DeGeeter said. “We’ve played in every kind of weather and it helps to practice in it.”
Naperville Central coach Jane Thompson said a day like Tuesday is not a time to worry about your average.
“You have to keep your head in the game and play the course. You have to determine what the course will give you and what it will allow you to shoot. Good players can recognize that,” she said.
The DVC teams go off in different directions for next week’s Class AA regional competition.
WW South and West Chicago head to the Sycamore Golf Club and the Burlington Central regional. Glenbard East, Glenbard North and Wheaton North will play in the Lake Park regional at Indian Lakes Golf Club in Bloomingdale. West Aurora battles in the Neuqua Valley regional at Naperbrook.
Naperville Central and Naperville North head to Seven Bridges Golf Club in Woodridge for the Hinsdale Central regional. It’s a course heavy with water obstacles, especially on the back nine.
“Interesting choice of courses, particularly for a regional,” Thompson said, chuckling. “It will be a challenge.”
She added her team was heading there Thursday to get in as many holes as they could in preparation for the tournament.