Prospect takes its winning show downstate
Suffice it to say, Prospect is heading into the IHSA state tournament with momentum.
The Knights, who won the Class AA crown in 2011 and were second in 2012, tuned up in fine fashion on Saturday for their own regional, which will be Wednesday at the Mt. Prospect Golf Course.
Led by junior Kacie O’Donnell’s career-best round, a 1-under-par 71, Prospect scored a 293 at the John Macek Memorial Girls Golf tournament hosted by Champaign Centennial High School.
The Knights, who were 2 strokes shy of their school record, finished ahead of Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin (301) and New Trier (305) on the University of Illinois Blue Golf Course.
Junior Meghan Kramp of Sacred Heart-Griffin won medalist honors with a 68.
Right behind runner-up O’Donnell were her teammates senior Ally Scaccia (third with a 73), senior Noreen Caporusso (fourth with a 74) and senior Kiley Walsh (fifth with a 75).
Junior Isabella Flack was 11th with a 78 while senior Bridget Brasil shot an 80. Senior Emma Menich, who was sixth in the MSL meet on Tuesday, was not in the rotation on Saturday.
“The girls played great,” said Prospect coach Jim Hamann. “It was a fun weekend.”
O’Donnell, who had 4 birdies, said she is playing some of her best golf. Her previous best score for 18 holes was a 74.
“I’m playing a lot better than I have all season,” she said. “My 100-and-in shots and putting were a lot better.”
Caporusso walked the course for the first time since returning from knee surgery a month ago. The Knights’ all-stater had been riding in a cart.
“It felt good,” she said. “ I’m really happy to be walking again. I missed it. It was fun out there.”
Caporusso carded 3 birdies.
“My irons were better,” she said. “They’d been a little ‘iffy’ but today they were much better and that helped my score.”
Prospect won the Mid-Suburban League championship for the sixth straight time four days earlier,
“We played really well,” Caporusso said of Saturday’s championship. “We are excited for the state tournament.”