Waubonsie Valley wins UEC title
Some of the area girls golf coaches have been whispering her name ever since she became ubiquitous on junior-age tournament leader-boards.
Waubonsie Valley freshman Bing Singhsumalee has arrived.
The ninth-grade sensation, fresh off medalist honors at the prestigious Naperville North invitational over the weekend, was a model of consistency Tuesday at the Upstate Eight Conference tournament.
Singhsumalee had 16 pars at waterlogged St. Andrews Golf & Country Club in West Chicago to fire a 73 and lead the Warriors to an undefeated season in the single-division conference.
Waubonsie Valley turned back sister school Metea Valley 332-336 to win its first conference championship since 2006.
Geneva, which had the individual champion in sophomore Abby Luchtenburg, was third at 343; St. Charles East (349) defeated St. Charles North on a fifth card for fourth.
Batavia (362) was sixth, followed by Neuqua Valley (369), the South Elgin-Bartlett-Streamwood co-op (390) and Lake Park (403).
The Larkin-Elgin co-op team did not have enough players for a team score.
“The conditions were pretty harsh, so I’m pretty happy with (my score) today,” said Singhsumalee.
The Warriors’ freshman leader made an adjustment to her swing with St. Andrews-based coach John Elliott recently.
“I just changed my swing two days ago,” Singhsumalee said of the decision to correct a tendency to come over the top on her downswing. “I didn’t focus that much on my swing. You have to play golf and not worry about your swing.”
The Warriors’ Courtney Williams complemented Singhsumalee with an 80; Waubonsie Valley also counted scores from Rebecca O’Bryan (89) and Maddie Phillips (90).
Lag putting is a central issue as St. Andrews’ notoriously undulating greens are as massive as the conditions were trying.
“My lagging was really good,” Williams said. “The greens did start drying up.”
“I’m very proud of Courtney,” Waubonsie Valley coach Jack Farnum said. “She has had a couple of rough weeks. Bing is Bing. She is as steady as steady comes. She practiced for two hours at Bolingbrook Golf Club (Monday after the Warriors’ normal practice at Springbrook). Her work ethic is unbelievable.”
Natalya Schleebs’ third-place 76 paced Metea Valley.
The Mustangs’ Alyna Vaughan had an 84, and Anna Petersen (87) and Amy Lundstram (89) rounded out the Metea scoring.
“Strangely enough (considering the conditions), I shot my best score ever,” Schleebs said. “It was pouring (at the start). I came back with two birdies on the back nine to finish strong.”
With the opening of Metea Valley, Neuqua Valley has lost its once fertile neighborhoods that made the program a powerhouse a decade ago.
The Wildcats were eased, though, by junior Kyleigh Dallner firing an 83 to earn all-conference accolades.
Erika Stark and Allison Phelus were the sole players to break 100 for Lake Park.
Geneva entered the tournament behind the two St. Charles schools, but the gem Luchtenburg authored enabled the Vikings to leapfrog their new rivals.
The Vikings’ sophomore solidified her top-point-earning status with her level-par performance that included a 1-under 34 on her outward-nine holes.
“I like playing in the rain,” Luchtenburg said. “I don’t know why. I finished off really strong. I have been playing really well the whole season. I’m very happy with (my score).”
The Vikings’ complementary players were equally consistent on the day.
Tara Richter, Katie Kelly, Megan Kelly and Nicole Hassels were all between 89 and 94 on the afternoon.
St. Charles East has been through an emotional roller coaster after Anna Daley was diagnosed with leukemia at the end of summer tryouts.
The junior has been hospitalized for virtually the entire school year.
“We miss her dearly,” St. Charles East coach Rod Osborne said. “Hopefully, she’ll be able to come out and see us before the end of the season.”
Paige Jordan and Darby Crane fired matching 84s to lead the Saints.
“My tee shots — they were crooked,” Jordan said of her travails. “I got a lot of lucky opportunities and just didn’t capitalize on them.”
Jane Noelker and Corey Guckien also contributed for St. Charles East.
St. Charles North junior Ariana Furrie was the defending individual champion, but the North Stars’ reigning Class AA St. Andrews regional medalist faltered down the stretch.
Furrie had a 78 to place fifth.
“I was struggling on the back nine,” Furrie said. “I didn’t hit any fairways — I did — but it felt like I didn’t hit any.”
Furrie was able to minimize her struggles with a hot blade.
“I started off putting very well,” Furrie said. “On some of my lag putts, I was putting it like an inch away to tap in.”
Jori Hurckes and Jessica Grill had matching 90s for the North Stars’ second and third scores, while Jordyn McFarlane had a 91 for the final team score.
Tara Cullerton has designs to return to the state tournament after failing to duplicate her sophomore appearance last fall.
The Bulldogs’ four-year leader finished in solo fourth with her 6-over 77.
Cullerton had her championship aspirations unhinge due to 37 putts.
“My lag putting was not good today,” Cullerton said. “I was leaving some of them 15 and 20 feet away. I have been pretty consistent throughout much of the year.”
Without the services of state qualifier Kayla Lehman this fall, Batavia had to rely on Marissa Muehlbauer (90), Lauren Anderson (97) and Candace Eamon (98) to complement Cullerton.
Bartlett senior Sam Coyne was in prime position for a top finish after playing her outward-nine holes in 41, but the state qualifier from two seasons ago unraveled on the home nine.
“I had a really bad back today,” said Coyne, who finished with an 86 to lead the eight Elgin-area contestants. “I can’t complain (about the conditions). They were bad for everyone. I left a lot of putts short. I just had an off-day.”
South Elgin students Lea Skuteris, Kennede Miller and Kristi Struck completed the schools’ scorecard with respective rounds of 93, 99 and 112.
Bartlett sophomore Rachel Iacopetti was the schools’ fifth member.
“(My play) was more consistent than usual, especially under the conditions,”
Skuteris, a sophomore, said. “My short game definitely could have been better.”
Miller was also disappointed with her results.
“(My score) wasn’t as good as it could have been,” Miller said.
Coach John O’Brien was preoccupied with his hosting duties for much of the day.
“I wish I could have out there watching them more,” O’Brien said.
Allison Smith led the Larkin-Elgin co-op with a 91; Denise Lorenz and Samantha Henig were the schools’ other two players.