Hampshire’s Ellett 2nd at FVC tournament

Back and forth they went, and in the end Crystal Lake Central sophomore Lexi Harkins ended up just a shot better.

Harkins and Hampshire senior Connie Ellett traded the lead for the individual championship of the Fox Valley Conference girls golf tournament at Crystal Woods all day long. Finally, on the third playoff hole, Harkins parred, Ellett bogeyd and the day was over.

Each girl shot a 9-over par 82 in regulation. Ellett had a 4-shot lead early on, Harkins overtook her and bolted to a 5-shot lead and then Ellett roared back on the final 6 holes. Ellette birdied 18 and Harkins bogeyd to force a playoff.

Ellett lamented missing a 1½-foot putt on the first playoff hole that would have won the tournament.

“I should have made that putt,” she said.

Ellett also wishes she had played the par-5 holes better.

“If you’re going to shoot well at Crystal Woods you have to dominate the par 5s,” she said. “Today the par 5s dominated me.”

Nevertheless, Ellett says she’s ready to go next week when the IHSA postseason gets under way. She and her Whip-Pur teammates will play in the Class AA Belvidetre North regional Wednesday at Timber Pointe.

“I feel pretty good about my game,” she said. “I have to get my putting down. I’ve been struggling putting but I’ve been hitting the ball pretty well.”

Harkins led the District 155 co-op team to the team championship. Prairie Ridge was second.

Jacobs junior Kaitlynn Woloszyk shot a 103 to finish in 14th place and earn all-conference honors.