Skurla stars as Tigers take DVC title again

Two days separated the most unusual rounds of golf Sarah Skurla has ever concocted.

On Saturday at the Naperville North Invitational, the Wheaton Warrenville South junior had more putts than strokes - 42 to 41 - in carding an 83.

"I don't think I've ever done that before," Skurla said.

But in drastically more trying conditions Monday morning at the DuPage Valley Conference girls golf championship at Pheasant Run in St. Charles, Skurla was up to the task.

The Tigers' No. 1 player was the only player in the field to break 40 on either the inward or backward nine, firing a 2-over-par 39 on the home nine to win the individual championship with an 83.

Elisa Palluau, the fellow returning Class AA state qualifier and top player from Naperville North, was second with an 86.

In becoming the fourth different player from the WW South this decade to claim top individual honors, Skurla anchored the Tigers' second straight team title with a 349 total.

Naperville Central reversed the regular-season results against Naperville North, 375-381, to forge a second-place tie among the community rivals.

Wheaton North (413) did likewise to West Aurora (439) to create another deadlock for fourth, while Glenbard East (443) and West Chicago (534) were sixth and seventh, respectively.

Glenbard North, in its first year as a program, did not compete at the varsity level.

After weeks of splendid weather, the competitors faced diabolic winds and chilly temperatures at the par-72 layout.

"With these conditions, you can't expect to have a lot of good iron shots," said Skurla, one of only four players to break 90. "I always took the wind into account on the putts."

The 39 forged by Skurla on the back nine was the lowest nine-hole score by 4 shots on the day, but the Tigers' depth has also been evidenced all season.

The reigning team state qualifiers also received balance from the underclass duo of Emily Johnson (88) and Renee Solberg (89), while senior Amy Wood completed the Tigers' successful defense with an 81.

Johnson, a sophomore, and ninth-grader Solberg were third and fourth overall.

"(Johnson) is just fearless," said WW South coach Art Tang. "I don't think she ever thinks of failure. She has probably been our most consistent player all year."

Palluau was also coming off a disappointing result last weekend at the Huskies' prestigious 16-team tournament, but the senior was a stroke better in the 40-mph winds.

"I didn't try to go for the pin (on my approach shots), just play to the center of the green," Palluau said. "That was probably the key for me. The other big thing was club selection. Off the tee I was pretty good."

Naperville Central teammates Carolyn Wong and Megan Philipp were fifth and sixth to lead the Redhawks.

"We knew coming into it that we couldn't win the conference because of 2 (regular-season) losses," said Naperville Central coach Jane Thompson. "It was a test of endurance."

Catherine Hillebrand (Naperville North), Emma Ondik (Naperville Central) and Sarah Nieman (Glenbard East) rounded out the top-10 individual results.

Natalie Kinsley and Aubrie Sole were the respective leaders of Wheaton North and West Chicago.

Chris Soulsby entered the season with no illusions.

The West Aurora coach had the intractable task of replacing his entire conference and postseason lineup because of graduation losses.

But the Blackhawks were still over .500 in their dual meets this season, and the squad was infused with promising but raw athleticism.

Lari Mitchell is the personification of the Blackhawks' new look, and the sophomore, first-team all-conference as a freshman softball third-baseman last spring, led the way.

"The wind made it really hard, especially when it was going right at you," said Mitchell, who led the team with a 107.

"I could be way lower if I had the time (to practice in the off-season)."

"She played no golf this summer," said Soulsby. "She has the potential to shoot in the 80s."

Patti Noonan, Emma Blincoe and Mariah Hudson were the other West Aurora contributors.

Emily Mueller, the top-rated player, was particularly affected by the unyielding conditions.

"It was my worst round of golf since freshman year," the senior said.