Prospect MSL defends title; Yoo claims individual crown

Not only did Prospect's girls golf team successfully defend its Mid-Suburban League championship on Tuesday at the Schaumburg Golf Club, the Knights did it under the coolest and windiest conditions of the fall season.

Led by senior Karly Grouwinkel's 75 on the par-72 course and an 81 by sophomore Christine Garmoe, the Knights finished with a score of 324, finishing ahead of Barrington (338), Fremd (365), Hersey (371) and Buffalo Grove (373) in the meet which started out with temperatures in the high 40s.

Defending Class 4A state champ Kris Yoo, who was third in the meet a year ago with an 80 at Arlington Lakes, took top honors Tuesday by firing a 73, followed by Grouwinkel, Buffalo Grove freshman Grace Kil (77), defending champ Taylor Quinn (77), Garmoe, Fremd senior Kelly Voigt (81), Barrington senior Julie D'Amico (84), Prospect junior Rachel Lawless (84) and Prospect senior Teresa Geraghty (84).

Also breaking 90 were Barrington junior Kelly Muskat (87), Hersey junior Megan Rogowski (87), Prospect senior Megan Tixier (87), Buffalo Grove junior K.C. Dunne (89) and Fremd sophomore Madison Zyer (89).

"I thought the scores would be higher considering how cold it was and but the girls were moving along fast," said Wheeling coach Peggy Ellsworth, who gives lessons at Schaumburg Golf Club and is the head professional at its sister course, Walnut Green, in Schaumburg. "There were some very solid scores but I'm not surprised by Kris's (Yoo) score because I see how hard she works here."

Yoo recorded 14 pars and a pair of birdies for the Cougars, who took sixth place with a score of 373.

"Everyone in my group was playing well," Yoo said. "That kept me on my feet. There was no time to relax."

"Kris tried to stay focused for the regional (next Wednesday at Fox Run) and she tried to make every shot she took count," said Conant coach Diana Johanneson. "She could not slack off."

Grouwinkel's 75 (37-38) was her second-best round this fall.

"The greens were pretty fast," she said. "But I was leaving a lot of putts short. It was tricky with the wind, but at our practice round (Monday) coach (Jim) Hamann told us the winds were going to be about the exact same as today. So we tried to work on our shots for the wind, like keeping our drives a little lower."

Hamann's players practiced there times at the Schaumburg Golf Club, most recently last Saturday.

"So the girls were well prepared," said Hamann, whose team's score was 2 strokes better than last year's 326. "The girls really wanted this bad and they're all doing a fantastic job. I'm really proud of them.

"On Monday, we worked on low shots because, we thought that would be important with the conditions (Tuesday). And we told the girls what we've been saying all season - the most important hole is the hole you're on."

Garmoe has now been part of a conference title in her freshman and sophomore years.

"It was nice this year because I was actually able to contribute to our team score," she said. "And it really helped to play in these same conditions as our practice round at Buffalo Grove Golf Course on Monday."

Kill, who had three 3-putt holes, joined Yoo and Grouwinkel as the only golfers to break 80. The 14-year-old recorded 9 par and 3 birdies.

Barrington's fourth score came from senior Mary Meg Gerbich (90) as the Fillies won another MSL West crown.

"I'm really happy," said Fillies coach Jodi Schoeck, whose team was led by University of Minnesota recruit Taylor Quinn's score of 77. "The girls fought through the conditions and everyone stay focused."

Schaumburg coach Michelle Hinojosa and her staff were applauded by Hamann, who now has a pair of MSL titles and four runner-up finishes in his six years as Prospect's coach.

"Schaumburg Golf Club and Schaumburg High School did a great job running this tournament," he said. "And we are very proud to do this (win championship) for our school."