St. Charles E. forges tie for 2nd in UEC
Paige Jordan and her St. Charles East teammates paid the ultimate honor for their late fellow golfer Thursday afternoon at Pottawatomie Golf Course.
The Saints’ girls golf team edged city rival St. Charles North, 172-174, and handily dispatched Batavia in the schools’ Upstate Eight Conference triangular in St. Charles.
With the twin victories, the Saints (9-3 overall, 7-2 in the conference) created a three-way tie for second place in the single-division league with the North Stars (8-3, 7-2) and Metea Valley.
Undefeated Waubonsie Valley is the front-runner for the conference tournament Monday at St. Andrews’ No. 1 course in West Chicago.
“There is always going to be that missing link to our team,” said Jordan, on the loss of Anna Daley, who succumbed to leukemia last spring. “It’s never going to be easy to deal with (her death). I hope we play very well for her (for the rest of the season). That’s what she would want for us to do. I’m really looking forward to the postseason of this golf season.”
Jordan and fellow returning Class AA returning state qualifier Ariana Furrie of St. Charles North did not disappoint in their top-rated pairing with Batavia sophomore Jessica Anderson.
Unaccustomed to the surprisingly fast greens on the par-37 layout, Jordan and Furie both finished strong to lead their respective teams.
Furrie birdied the par-5 signature hole, the third — which requires a carry over the Fox River to an near-island-like green — and Jordan did likewise to keep pace.
Furrie had her bid for the only sub-40 round literally lip out when her seven-foot effort on her final hole of the shotgun start — the par-3 fourth — narrowly missed.
Jordan also had to overcome uncharacteristic putting woes in finishing a shot behind Furrie, who led all 24 players with a 3-over 40.
“We played here the other day, and (the greens) were really slow,” said Furrie. “I was hoping to play better but I’m happy with my score.”
“I have never played (Pottawatomie) with (the greens) like this,” Jordan said. “I had 19 putts, which is like three over my average.”
“The fastest greens are always in the fall,” St. Charles East coach Rod Osborne said. “They’re starting to get fast because the grass isn’t growing because it’s cooler. Some of (the players from all three schools) never did adjust to them.”
Jane Noelker posted a 42 for the Saints, who received their final two scores with a 44 from Darby Crane and 45 from Karina Shah.
The North Stars fell tantalizingly close with matching 44s from Jessica Grill and Jordyn McFarlane; Sam Scroggin had a 46 for the North Stars’ final counting score.
Anderson had a 46 to lead Batavia (3-8, 3-6), which finished with a 224, with fellow contributions from Candace Eamon, Becca Hasemann and Sierra McNee.
“This course is very intimidating for girls who have never played here before,” Batavia coach Morgan Connell said. “(Anderson) has potential.”