Walsh, Prospect edge Fremd to keep MSL streak alive
Prospect junior Kiley Walsh has certainly saved her share of pars throughout her high school career.
On Tuesday, she helped save a dual meet and one of the all-time longest winning streaks in Mid-Suburban League sports.
Walsh’s round of 35 helped lift the Prospect girls golf team to a 160-162 victory over Fremd as both teams went into the match undefeated in the MSL.
The junior, who earlier in the season tied her sister Allison for the lowest nine-hole score in school history (33), birdied the par 5 first hole, bogeyed No. 5 and parred the rest of the front nine at the Mt. Prospect Golf Course.
“Without Kiley, we do not beat Fremd,” said Knights coach Jim Hamann, who club (10-0 in the MSL) won its 62nd straight league meet. “She played extremely well. She is swinging the club very well and playing with a lot of confidence.”
The Vikings gave the Class AA defending state champs one of their closest calls in the MSL streak, which extends through six seasons.
Junior Jennifer Kim led the Vikes with a 37, followed by freshman Jae Hee Hurr’s career-low 39. Senior Angie Kim came in with a 41 and junior Dorothy Feng had a 45.
“Fremd has some really good players and they played really well,” said Walsh, who was joined on the Knights’ scorecard by Ally Scaccia (41), Noreen Caporusso (42) and Isabella Flack (42). “Jennifer Kim kept her cool and I give her props.
“It was little windy out there. Mr. Hamann prepares us well to play in these conditions so it really didn’t bother us.”
The Knights were well aware they were tied for first with Fremd (9-1) coming into the MSL meet.
“We’re all good friends and it’s fun to play them,” Walsh added. “I don’t know if we like it to be as close as it was, but they (Fremd) played really well.”
After the first two groups had finished, the Vikes were leading by 2 strokes. But Flack’s score of 42 lowered the Prospect total.
“To lose by 2 strokes is not that much at all,” said Angie Kim. ”We were just two or three putts away from winning the match. I’m very proud of my team.”
“I’m really proud of the girls,” said Vikings coach Christine Vlaming. “They worked really hard to get where we are at. They went out and gave it their best effort and they should hold their heads high.”
Three days earlier at the Rockford Guilford Invite, Fremd (336) finished 26 strokes behind Prospect (310) in an 18-hole event.
“I want to compliment Fremd,” Hamann said. “They played very well. They’ve had a great season and are definitely one of the top teams in the state.”