Yoo's game hits new level

In some cases, being a sophomore on a varsity team is the sign of a special athlete.

In the case of Conant's Kris Yoo, it's something special for the entire girls golf team.

Last year, Yoo also played on varsity -- and played well -- but it was a year of learning and adjustment. Her play was impressive with a third-place finish in the Mid-Suburban League followed by a championship at the Hoffman Estates regional.

Yet she fell short at sectionals and missed the mark to state.

This year, she's more mature, more consistent and more confident. She's had several rounds this year under par.

Yoo began the postseason by shooting a 76 to win the MSL tournament as an individual. While the accomplishment was impressive, her main goals are set in the next couple of weeks.

"My short-term goals are to make it to sectionals, and hopefully to state," Yoo said.

As long as Yoo continues to play at her potential, getting to state shouldn't be a problem.

"If Kris wants it to happen it will happen," said Conant coach Diana Johannesen. "She saw that from last year at sectionals. She had not succeeded in her goals."

That drove Yoo to practice and it's paying off.

"All (last) summer that is what she did -- practiced --until she was consistently in the 30s," Johannesen said. "It is not surprising that Kris is focused. What is surprising is that she is a sophomore. Her maturity and focus is older than most seniors."

Although a sophomore, golf is nothing new to Yoo.

"I started golf because my dad was really into golf," she said. "He really enjoyed playing golf and took us to the range and course when we were young. I started to play when I was 7 years old."

Her determination is the final ingredient to her success.

"My method is to practice a lot," Yoo said. "My parents encourage me a lot. My parents always say to me, 'If you're going to try something, give it your all.'"

Yoo has also had a positive effect on her teammates. The Cougars just finished in a tie for third in conference.

"She has made everyone step it up as a player, as a coach and as a team," said Johannesen. "I have enjoyed how she appreciates anything we do for her.

"She has made our top two players Pam Wawrzyniak and Heather Nyc understand what it means to really practice and step it up. The competition between the three of them has been healthy."

Outside of golf, Yoo is nearly a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and also enjoys playing volleyball.

"When I got to high school, I couldn't play volleyball anymore because it was the same season as golf," said Yoo, who also finds time to play piano. "But it wasn't very hard for me to choose which sport I was going to choose. It was going to be golf no matter what."

It appears she made the right decision.