Whips step up to finish 2nd

The Hampshire girls golf team took a step up in competition Wednesday at the Class AA Moline regional.

And the Whip-Purs rose to the occasion.

With solid rounds from all 4 players, Hampshire shot a 355 to finish second at the par-71 Indian Bluff, and with it earn a berth to Monday's Galesburg sectional at Lake Bracken Country Club.

"I don't even know what to say," said Hampshire coach Sue Ellett. "To shoot 355 on a course they've never seen and without a senior on the team is big."

Ellett had to figure her daughters, Connie and Taylor, would shoot their usual steady rounds, and they did. Connie tied for second with an 81 and Taylor tied for fourth with an 82.

But what carried the Hampshire team to the next round was the play of junior Tina Tuminaro and freshman Grace Jakubowski. Tuminaro, who had a 112 at regionals last year, shot a career-best 95 Wednesday and Jakubowski came in at 97 as the Whip-Purs were 5 strokes better than third place Galesburg. Jessie VanDorin and Natalie Roe also competed for the Whips.

"I was very impressed by how they kept it together today," said Sue Ellett of her team. "It was beautiful to see. It's a huge accomplishment for the kids to get to the sectional in only our second year of the program and how we're doing it with the big dogs."

Hampshire did qualify for a Class A sectional last year and Taylor Ellett was an individual state qualifier.

Burlington Central was left out of sectional qualifying. Junior Jordan Maisto had a 90, which was 2 shots off the final qualifying score of 88. The Rockets shot 398 as a team to finish seventh.

Sterling junior Ember Schuldt was the individual champion with a 3-under 68.

At Freeport: Huntley senior Katlyn Anderberg shot an 87 and was the first individual qualifier out of the Class AA Freeport regional at Park Hills. She will also play in the Galesburg sectional. The Red Raiders shot 500 as a team. Belvidere North won the title with a 345 with Rockford Boylan (351) and Hononegah (356) taking the other qualifying spot. Belvidere North's Leah Bradley was medalist with a 77.