Lillie, St. Charles North shine on cloudy day
Kate Lillie is one of those golfers who doesn't mind bad weather.
So Monday was just what the doctor ordered for the St. Charles North sophomore.
Lillie shot a 1-under par 34 to win the individual title and lead the North Stars to their second-straight team championship of the South Elgin Invitational at the cold and damp Elgin Country Club.
"I started on (hole No.) 2 and had a bogey, double bogey," said Lillie, who shot a 39 in the event last year. "That's not what I would have wanted. But then it started to rain on my third hole and bad weather makes me focus more."
Lillie birdied her next two holes then went par, birdie, par, par, birdie to tie her career low 9-hole round.
"My putting was really good today," she said. "I was able to sink a lot of putts and if I was far away I had a makable second putt. My chipping was really good, too."
It was just the second time Lillie had played the ECC course, but she remembered things from last year that helped her on Monday.
"I could remember most of the course," she said. "I knew some of the holes that gave me trouble last year and the strategies I was going to use this year. That really helped me."
SCN sophomore Gianna Furrie, who won the tournament last year, came in with a 39 as the North Stars carded a 163 to beat second place Geneva by 7 shots. Batavia took third with a 177.
The North Stars also counted a 44 from Gabi Spinazze and a 46 from Alina O'Donnell.
First-year North Stars' coach Irish Whalen was impressed with Lillie and her whole team.
"She kept her head in it and attacked the pin," Whalen said of Lillie. "All the girls have a lot of golf experience and we were able to keep our numbers in the 40s. We're coming on strong as a team."
Geneva got a solid 40 from senior Nicole Hassels to pave the way to second place.
"I started bogey bogey but then I had a birdie and I chipped in one time," said Hassels. "Overall it was good. My driving was good and my putting was good. I only had 15 putts and I didn't lose a ball or hit any hazards. That was nice. I was happy."
Darby Lillibridge and Mary Claire Novak each had 43s for the Vikings, who also counted a 44 from Allie Henry.
Geneva coach Doug Ross says his team feeds off Hassels.
"The other girls see her confidence and they all want to be a part of it," Ross said. "She did a nice job and hopefully she can continue it. All in all we did well. We know how strong St. Charles North is and they're tough to beat. It's always a goal to beat a team we haven't beat before. We came close today."
Burlington Central junior Josie Kurosky, who is an honorary member at the country club, shot her best round on her home course, firing a 38 to finish second individually.
"My approach shots were good and I had quite a few pars," said Kurosky, who chipped to 2 feet from the hole on No. 5 and birdied the hole.
Becca Hasemann shot a 41 to lead the Bulldogs to third place. Batavia also counted a 42 from Madi McCoy, a 45 from Lauren Anderson and a 49 from Erin Ewert.
St. Edward senior Ryann Scully rounded out the Top 10 individually with a 44.