St. Edward, Hampshire qualify for sectional play
It was just another day at the office for Hampshire freshman golf phenom Taylor Ellett, who shot an 88 at The Highlands of Elgin Wednesday to record her first career postseason accolade at the high school level while collecting the third best score in the Class A St. Edward regional.
"It was really fun," said Ellett of the more than stellar performance. "I had a rough start, but after a while I found my swing.
"My irons were a lot better on the back nine, and I played the par 3s really well."
Ellett's 88 lifted Hampshire to its first official postseason advancement as a team. The Whip-Purs shot a combined 444 which was enough to advance the entire roster to the Byron sectional at Prairie View on Tuesday.
"There are almost no words to describe how proud I am of these girls," said Hampshire coach Sue Ellett.
"The kids all battled it out for 18 holes, and I never saw quit on any of their faces."
Tina Tuminaro shot a 112, while teammate Alex Field shot a 121 and Taylor Zilch a 123. Stephanie Hermann and Jessie Van Dorin also finished with matching 132s.
"To be a sectional qualifier in our first stint as a team with all freshmen and sophomores is just incredible," coach Ellett added. "The improvements this season have been extraordinary. Everybody contributed.
"This group is so excited to be the first team to qualify for girls golf at Hampshire."
The Whips were outdone only by regional champions Westmont (400) and runner-up St. Edward, which shot a 438 to finish second as a team for the second consecutive season, a result which fared well for the Green Wave during the 2006 season.
In fact, after shooting a 409 last year for a second-place finish at regionals, St. Edward went on to win the Somonauk sectional.
The Green Wave hope to do the same this year.
"The course played pretty tough today," said Green Wave coach Mike Lehman. "If your short game was on, you played well."
Playing well for St. Edward were Danielle Coffman and Erin Schneider who shot matching 101s, as well as Hannah Carter (109), Nicole Mattoon (127), Bailey Roth (127) and Brittania Schreurs (143).
"My sophomores (Coffman and Schneider) stepped it up today," said Lehman. "That's really what we needed.
"Of course we're looking to repeat what we did last year and I think we can do that if we keep our composure. Either way, its very exciting and we're very proud of what the girls did here today."
Westminster Christian's Julia Engen, who competed as an individual shot a 128 which was just shy of a qualifying finish.
Driscoll's Gianna DiGrazia was the regional medalist coming in just one over par with a 72.
DiGrazia will look for a sectional title as well.
"I would like to win the sectional," she said. "I'm not trying to compete against anybody other than myself and the course."
Prairie View is a par 72 bentgrass layout which combines tight tree-lined holes with open links-style holes.
"We will go out Tuesday and try our best," said coach Ellett. "Just to have gotten there is a success story for us."
DiGrazia will be joined by individual qualifiers Anne Egan of Willows Academy who shot a 108, Genoa-Kingston's Jen Hulsey (109) and Ashley Wigant (117), Madeline Kukanza (118) of North Shore Country Day, Hinckley-Big Rock's Bianca Edmier (120) and Hanna Vandermoere (121) and North Boone's Amy Smith (122).