Yuen, Singhsumalee go 1-2 at state again

FORSYTH, Ill. - Bing Singhsumalee did virtually everything possible on her final nine holes of high school golf.

But Jessica Yuen matched the Waubonsie Valley star shot for shot for Neuqua Valley at the Class AA girls finals on Saturday afternoon at Hickory Creek Golf Course.

Yuen, who defeated Singhsumalee to win the individual state championship last season, duplicated her achievement in almost identical fashion.

Singhsumalee fired an inward-nine 4-under-par 32 to get to level par for the two-day tournament with her 3-under 69 total for the day.

Yuen, playing almost 90 minutes later, backed up her 1-under front with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 to seal her second consecutive state title.

The Wildcats' junior shot her second straight 69 on the final day of the season to turn back the Illinois-bound Singhsumalee 142-144.

"I thought they were destined to play off (for the championship)," Neuqua Valley coach John Keller said. "It would have been nerve-wracking, but it would have been fitting: the two best golfers in the state the last two years."

"I was assuming (Singhsumalee) shot a pretty good score," said Yuen, who was a missed sand save on No. 18 away from a bogey-free round. "I was not thinking too much what Bing shot. I was pretty nervous walking up the 18th hole. I had a good feeling (after birdieing the previous two holes)."

Singhsumalee, who began on the back nine, drained a 6-footer for her sixth and final birdie of the round on her penultimate hole.

"I wasn't thinking of a (back-nine) number," Singhsumalee said. "I just wanted to go out with a bang. I knew I would be up there (on the leaderboard), but I had no idea where Jess was at."

"It's kind of bittersweet right now," said Waubonsie Valley coach Jack Farnan, whose team improved 21 shots from Friday to finish in seventh place in its first state appearance in 18 years. "It's kind of hard to put into words what (Singhsumalee) has done. All four years she was awfully close (to a state championship)."

But it proved to be a banner day for the area as Hinsdale Central won its first title in program history with a 634-649 victory over Loyola.

Roshannah Gaur was all-state to lead the Red Devils, who had all four scores in the 70s during second-round play.

Wheaton Warrenville South had its bid for a first state trophy fall short; New Trier bettered the Tigers by 8 shots to claim third place.

Four-time state qualifier Kelly Anderson ended her senior year with a tie for 14th with her 36-hole total of 158 for WW South.

"I was coming out here trying to stay focused and composed," Anderson said. "It was a great season."

Wheaton Academy finished 10th at the Class A tournament in Decatur.