St. Charles East's depth keys victory
All the ingredients were present for a classic dual-meet golf match on Thursday afternoon at Pottawomie.
The St. Charles high schools' girls golf squads were unbeaten in Upstate Eight Conference play, but Chris Patrick, the North Stars' coach, had a premonition.
"East is six deep," Patrick said. "We knew their depth was going to give us trouble."
St. Charles North enjoyed a 5-shot cushion from the lead group as senior state veteran Marin Beagley and freshman standout Ariana Furrie both played their final eight holes in level par to share medalist honors with 1-over 37s. But the Saints' second and third twosomes carried the day, ending the North Stars' 11-match season-opening winning streak as Rebecca Norris' ninth-hole eagle and a 41 from fifth-man Kate Ven Horst paved the way for the Saints' 159-163 victory in St. Charles.
The Saints missed tying the collective course record - set by its 1993 state-championship team - by a stroke.
Jenny Niemiec, the Saints' two-time reigning Class AA state qualifier, was once again the anchor for St. Charles East (10-1, 7-0). The senior made mincemeat of the second hole, leaving her drive on the 276-yard par-4 mere paces from the front edge.
"I love that hole," said Niemiec, who converted a six-footer for birdie to flavor her team-best 38. "I always go for that one off the tee."
But both Furie, who hit a gorgeous 5-iron to within three feet for birdie at No. 7, and Beagley, with a 2-putt birdie at the last, eventually passed Niemiec for low honors.
"I was more excited than nervous," said Furie, who had two up-and-in par saves over a critical beginning three-hole stretch. "I really wanted to play well today; my scores haven't been that good in recent weeks."
Beagley, meanwhile, was a model of consistency, providing the cliché of fairways and greens with additional shelf life. The senior 3-putted the first hole for bogey, only to reclaim the course by missing only one green in regulation the rest of the way.
"I am waiting for it (my game) all to come together," Beagley said.
The North Stars' early lead, assured when Nicole Rae, the Saints' No. 2 player, authored a 41, was a footnote, though, after Norris' eagle at the last gave the senior a 39. When the Saints' Ven Horst also came home with a 41, the North Stars' two final counting scores, a 42 from junior KK Barr and a 47 by freshman Jordyn McFarlane, left the squad at 11-1 overall and 6-1 in the conference.
"Forty-one as our highest score is remarkable on this course," St. Charles East coach Rod Osborne said.