O'Connor, Tigers win DVC
Molly O'Connor ended her DuPage Valley Conference golf career in style.
The Wheaton Warrenville South senior nailed a 10-foot birdie on the par-5 18th hole to capture her third consecutive girls golf crown Monday afternoon at Naperbrook Golf Course in Plainfield.
The Indiana-bound O'Connor closed out with a highly impressive back-nine 38 in shooting a 79. Her dominant play propelled the Tigers to their third league title in four years with 17 shot victory, 346-363 over West Aurora.
Defending champion Naperville North (368) finished in third, followed by Naperville Central (371), Wheaton North and West Chicago. Glenbard East, competing in its first year as a varsity program, participated but their scores did not count toward the team title.
"I knew I definitely wanted to shoot in the 70s," said O'Connor. "I didn't want to shoot anything high on the back. I could not be happier for the team. We deserved this."
O'Connor had to sweat out some anxious moments.
Playing in a group behind O'Connor, Wheaton North senior Nicole Bronson had a chance to force a playoff with a par. Bronson saw her chances evaporate after consecutive shots saw greenside bunkers.
The Falcons' standout played shot for shot with O'Connor, including a remarkable stretch of 10 consecutive pars starting with the fourth hole.
"I just wanted to play my best," said Bronson. "There are some really good girls here."
WW South maintained an iron lead for the team title after the opening nine holes.
O'Connor, Sarah Skurla, and Emily Johnson toured the frontside in the low 40s. The Tigers' romp to the title was secured after Amy Wood rounded out their counting scores with a 94.
Skurla was fifth with an 85, Johnson eighth with an 88. WW South coach Art Tang said the team's strong mental approach was established by the team first mentality of O'Connor.
"(O'Connor) is a great team player," said Tang. "She always puts the team before the individual. (The players) kept their composure and did what they had to do."
Naperville North's Marissa Miko, a returning state qualifier, shot an 87 for the Huskies. Her teammate Elisa Palluau was even better, tying West Aurora senior Tina Stengle for third place with an 83.
Palluau scored two outward-nine birdies in turning the front in 40. "There were a couple of holes that were kind of iffy," said Palluau. "I was just trying to play my game, taking one shot at a time."
Naperville Central sophomore Emma Ondik paced the Redhawks with an 86-good for sixth and classmate Carolyn Wong was 10th with a 91.
Kim Kleczewski (West Chicago) and Sara Niemen (Glenbard East) led their respective squads.