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Nay, Flaherty show Naperville North the way

Lauren Nay and Mara Flaherty were a potent 1-2 punch for the Naperville North girls golf team on Tuesday.

Nay tamed the back nine of the Naperville Country Club with a flawless 2-under-par 34 to claim the Vern McGongale Memorial Classic with a level-par 72.

Flaherty was the only other female golfer to break 80. Her runner-up 77 augmented Nay to give Naperville North a comfortable 32-shot victory over Waubonsie Valley with its 327 total.

The Warriors were paced by three-time reigning state qualifier and Indiana-bound senior Arushi Singh, fifth overall with an 82.

Naperville Central (365) was third behind the third-place 80 authored by Emma Lim; Benet (372), which featured a fourth-place 81 from returning state qualifier Caroline Wing, finished fourth; Neuqua Valley (390) and Metea Valley (424) rounded out the six-team Naperville-area tournament.

"I just played golf and tried to keep my mental game stable," said Nay, who guided the Huskies to sixth in the Class 2A tournament last fall. "It was hard for me to get off the tee, but I was getting up and down. I was hitting those (approach) shots from 100 yards pretty close. I think that really helped."

Flaherty is one of four returning state veterans for Naperville North; the other two Decatur returnees for the Huskies are Emily Nay and Hannah Martin, both of whom shot matching 89s.

"I have played this course many times before," Flaherty said of the rolling layout with extremely penal greens. "I am definitely experienced on this course."

The Nay sisters imparted significant guidance to their teammates.

"Lauren and Emily are both members here," Naperville North coach Greta Williams said. "I think that helped a lot, not only with the way they played but the advice they gave to the girls. I think that made a huge difference."

Wing is the lone returning starter from the Redwings' state crew from last season.

"My chipping was good, and the only thing that went wrong for me was my driver," Wing said.

Singh was hot to begin her round.

"I started off 1-under through nine holes," Singh said. "The back nine I had a few mis-hits."

In the boys competition, Naperville Central senior Tommy Dunsire earned medalist honors with a 3-over 75 to best Waubonsie Valley sophomore Will Troy by a shot.

Neuqua Valley returning state qualifier Jack Vercautren and junior Colin Chromy had identical third-place scores of 77 to cement the Wildcats' championship team effort at 320.

Naperville Central (330), Naperville North (333), Waubonsie Valley (335), Benet (342) and Metea Valley (357) followed the Wildcats' lead.

Dunsire used course knowledge to his benefit.

"I am pretty familiar with (the club), and a lot of kids I play with play here a lot," Dunsire said. "I started hitting my drives very well. I could have played the back nine very well, but I couldn't get the putts to drop. I was happy with the way I played."

  Naperville North Girls golf coach Greta Williams holds the Vern McGonagle Memorial High School Golf Championship trophy her team earned at the Naperville Country Club. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Naperville North's Lauren Nay watches her drive during the Vern McGonagle Memorial High School Golf Championship at the Naperville Country Club. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Naperville Central's Tommy Dunsire watches his drive during the Vern McGonagle Memorial High School Golf Championship at the Naperville Country Club. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Waubonsie Valley's Will Troy watches his drive during the Vern McGonagle Memorial High School Golf Championship at the Naperville Country Club. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Neuqua Valley's Jack Vercautren watches his drive during the Vern McGonagle Memorial High School Golf Championship at the Naperville Country Club. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Naperville North's Carl Christiansen watches his drive during the Vern McGonagle Memorial High School Golf Championship at the Naperville Country Club. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Metea Valley's Scott Boyajian watches his drive during the Vern McGonagle Memorial High School Golf Championship at the Naperville Country Club. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Benet Academy's Matt Severino watches his drive during the Vern McGonagle Memorial High School Golf Championship at the Naperville Country Club. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Benet Academy's Caroline Wing sinks a putt during the Vern McGonagle Memorial High School Golf Championship at the Naperville Country Club. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Naperville Central's Tommy Dunsire watches his drive during the Vern McGonagle Memorial High School Golf Championship at the Naperville Country Club. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Naperville Central's Emma Lim chips to the green during the Vern McGonagle Memorial High School Golf Championship at the Naperville Country Club. At left is Benet Academy's Caroline Wing. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Neuqua Valley's Karsen O'Keefe watches her drive during the Vern McGonagle Memorial High School Golf Championship at the Naperville Country Club. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Waubonsie Valley's Arushi Singh watches her drive during the Vern McGonagle Memorial High School Golf Championship at the Naperville Country Club. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Neuqua Valley's Karsen O'Keefe shoots to the green during the Vern McGonagle Memorial High School Golf Championship at the Naperville Country Club. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Waubonsie Valley's Arushi Singh chips to the green during the Vern McGonagle Memorial High School Golf Championship at the Naperville Country Club. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Naperville Central's Emma Lim marks her ball during the Vern McGonagle Memorial High School Golf Championship at the Naperville Country Club. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Metea Valley's Madison Neihardt watches her putt during the Vern McGonagle Memorial High School Golf Championship at the Naperville Country Club. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
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