Hampshire girls confident going into sectional

The Hampshire girls golf team qualifying for Monday's Class AA Galesburg sectional at Lake Bracken Country Club is significant on a number of fronts.

First, this is only Hampshire's second year as a golf program. And more importantly, the Whip-Purs advanced to the sectional round in their first year playing up a class. Hampshire was a Class A program in 2007, but was moved into Class AA this year due to an enrollment increase as a result of District 300 redoing boundaries.

"It's a huge deal," said Hampshire coach Sue Ellett of making the sectional. "When we got the news we were being moved up in double-A I wasn't real happy. We're still a small school of kids. But there's nothing you can do about it. We decided to work a little harder and get to the sectional. This is huge for the kids. A 355 (at regional; second place) was a great score."

The Whip-Purs finished second in the Moline regional fresh off winning the Big Northern Conference team title.

"It's been really exciting," said Hampshire freshman Connie Ellett. "It's a step up from last year to Class AA. It's harder."

Connie Ellett is one of 3 sophomores in Hampshire's top 7 along with Grace Jakubowski and Natalie Roe. Connie's sister, Taylor, is a sophomore, as are Jessie Van Dorn and Taylor Zilch. Tina Tuminaro is the only junior.

"We still have no seniors," said Sue Ellett. "We're a young team, but we're a pretty deep team."

Connie Ellett led Hampshire at the regional (81), while Taylor Ellett was right behind her (82). Tuminaro (95) and Jakubowski (97) also counted in Moline last week. Connie Ellett has shot as low as 34 for 9 holes this year, while Taylor Ellett's low was 36 for 9 holes.

"The fact that everybody has been practicing in the summer has helped us," said Taylor Ellett. "The first day of golf practice wasn't now let's start playing golf. Everybody had been playing before, so that helped a lot."

"Taylor has gotten better, Grace and I have been counting. Natalie has gotten better, Tina has gotten her scores down and Jess has gotten better," said Connie Ellett speaking of the 6 Hampshire regional golfers. "Everybody has gotten better and improved and that has helped the team."

Hampshire left today for Galesburg where it will spend the night before playing in the sectional where only the top 2 teams advance to the Class AA state tournament next weekend in Downstate Makanda. The top 8 individuals not on qualifying teams will also advance.

"We're going to go in there and do our best and play the golf course and not worry about the other girls and what they are shooting," said Taylor Ellett. "We're going to focus on what we have to do. If we do that, we'll be fine."

Also in Class AA, the South Elgin-Bartlett-Streamwood co-op team will play in the Waukegan sectional at Bonnie Brook. Junior Carly Schneider (Streamwood) fired an 80 for South Elgin at the regional, while senior Andrea Mastro shot an 88.

"It's amazing," said Schneider. "Definitely going to sectionals shows us how good we are. We knew we had the potential to be a great team and knowing that made a difference this year. Learning from last year's mistakes really helped us as a team."

Schneider worked on her game extensively in the off-season.

"I'm more confident this year and have realized every shot matters," said Schneider, who has taken second in 4 major high school tournaments (including conference and regional). "Definitely playing in a lot of tournaments and getting the experience in the summer has helped me be a better player. It's the drive for it and wanting to be a great player. I love the sport so much. That's really helped me be where I am right now."

Huntley senior Katlyn Anderberg will also play in the sectional field at Galesburg.

St. Edward will compete in the Class A Lena-Winslow sectional at Wolf Hollow in Lena. Junior Danielle Coffman led the way at the regional level for the Green Wave. Class A sectional advancers head to the state tournament in Carbondale next weekend.

Class 3A boys: Larkin is back in the sectional as a team for the second time in as many years after a drought that dated back to 2001.

The Royals will compete in the Class 3A Bartlett sectional at Bartlett Hills.

"This is a very big deal for us," said Larkin junior Scott Harm. "Everybody has been working hard and been working toward this the whole season. All of the practice has really improved us."

Harm and senior Ryan Smith have been constant presences for veteran coach Tim Jones. The Royals received key contributions at the regional from seniors Luc Geier and Joe Stace. Fellow senior Garrette Reaves was 1 shot of scoring for the Royals in the regional.

"Scott and I have been playing well, but the other guys have stepped up here at the end of the year," said Harm. "Joe and Luc and Garrette have been playing well. Those scores got us out of the regional."

Both Harm and Smith feel the Royals will have a slight edge due to the fact they've played a number of matches at Bartlett Hills this year.

"We've played there a lot this year," said Harm. "We know the greens and we know how the course is laid out."

"We know the course," said Smith. "It's going to be tough. There are a lot of good teams. If we have a good day and play well, maybe we've got a chance."

South Elgin junior Drew Buddle was 1 shot off regional medalist Trace Pomplun of Bartlett last week. Both golfers will be part of the Bartlett field. Pomplun shot 72 at The Highlands, while Buddle checked in at 73.

"Lately I've been putting real good," said Buddle. "I've been chipping and putting. That's been a real strength."

Buddle cut 9 shots off his score from conference to regional.

"This is the second year in a row I've made it out," said Buddle. "I'm bummed the team couldn't get out. But I've got a chance to get to state on our home course. I know most of the bounces. I've played here the last 3 or 4 years. I know it like the back of my hand."

South Elgin sophomore Ryan Pondel also will play in the sectional at Bartlett Hills Monday

The Class 3A Barrington sectional Monday at Makray Memorial will feature a Jacobs team that shot 298 last week to win the program's first-ever regional title.

"It's great to be the first team to have ever won the regional," said Jacobs sophomore Scott Cahill, who led the way with a 71. "We've got a chance now to move on to state, which would be great for us."

Cahill was one of 4 Jacobs golfers to shoot in the 70s at the regional. Seniors Donnie Langland, Andrew Meier and Mike Kneip were also in that group and senior Tyler Vachio shot 80 and did not count.

"Our depth has been really good all year," said Cahill. "If one of the top guys struggled, someone else picked us up and that really helped us out."

Regional champion Nick Robles (freshman) is one of 3 Crystal Lake South golfers in the field at Barrington. Seniors Nick Remley and Chris Squires also advanced. Robles won the regional title with a 68 at Prairie Isle last week.

Matt Efflandt (Cary-Grove), Ryan Laughlin (Cary-Grove) and Jordan Nelson (Dundee-Crown) round out the list of locals playing in Barrington Monday.

Class 2A boys: Burlington Central, paced by seniors Peter Cappas (75 regional) and Sam Schmalz (78 regional), will compete as a team in Monday's Marian Central sectional at Crystal Woods in Woodstock. Hampshire junior Grant Yoder and freshman Jeremy Yoder will also be part of the field.

Class 1A boys: St. Edward sophomore Eric Winters and freshman Michael Holevas will compete in the Byron sectional at Prairie View. Winters advanced with a 77 in regional play, while Holevas qualified with an 80.

"Lately I've been kind of clicking on all cylinders," said Winters. "When you get to the postseason, that's where you want to be. I'm going to take it one hole at a time."

Holevas knows he must improve his regional showing.

"At the regional, I didn't have my best game. I kept it to a reasonable score to where I could move on," said Holevas. "I definitely have to go lower than 80. I think I can do that if I keep striking the ball well and making the putts."

For the boys, the top 2 sectional teams and the top 8 individuals not on qualifying teams advance to next weekend's state finals in the Bloomington-Normal area.