St. Charles East snares title at Prairie Ridge
Survival is the key word when it comes to regional golf.
And that's what several area girls did Wednesday during the Class AA Prairie Ridge regional at Prairie Isle - survive.
Most of the advancing players weren't all that happy with their scores on the clear but windy day, but they all agreed that advancing to the next round was the goal, regardless of the score.
St. Charles East, led by a medalist round of 77 from senior Jenny Niemiec, won the regional championship with a 339, a whopping 18 strokes ahead of second place finisher St. Charles North. Host Prairie Ridge had a 372 to edge out Crystal Lake Central for the final team qualifying spot to Monday's Rockford Guilford sectional at Ingersoll in Rockford.
Lakes senior Abbie Horan led the list of individual qualifiers with a 78. Streamwood senior Carly Schneider advanced with an 83, Huntley senior Katelyn Anderberg had an 87 to move on, Bartlett sophomore Samantha Coyne advanced with a 93 and Lakes junior Emma Schutz will play again Monday after shooting a 95.
Individually Lakes' Horan, who played in a middle group under the IHSA's new "Wave" tee times, was the clubhouse leader right up until Nimiec's 77 was posted as the day's final score.
"I played a practice round out here Sunday and I'm so glad I did. I would have been lost without it," said Horan, who finished fourth in the state tournament last year. "I was even through 13 and then the end didn't go so well but I'm happy overall. The goal is to get out and go to state but I would have liked to have played better. I just lost it at the end."
The regional title is St. Charles East's third straight and 10th in program history. The Saints will be seeking their first sectional crown since 2000 on Monday.
For the Saints' Niemiec, who finished tied for 24th at state last year, winning regional titles aren't as important as being consistent.
"I don't come out expecting to win," she said. "My goal is just to shoot in the 70s. I had a 4-putt and three 3-putts today but other than that it was a good round. My irons were working well. I really didn't have one bad iron shot.
"And it's great that the team won. We're excited."
In addition to Niemiec's medalist round, the Saints counted matching 87s from juniors Nicole Rae and Kate VenHorst and an 88 from senior Rebecca Norris.
St. Charles North advanced, led by senior Marin Beagley's 82, which was third overall. Freshman Arianna Furrie had an 83 for the North Stars, while they also counted a 93 from junior KK Barr and a 99 from freshman Jordyn McFarlane.
Individually Lakes' Horan, who played in a middle group under the IHSA's new "Wave" tee times, was the clubhouse leader right up until Nimiec's 77 was posted as the day's final score.
"I played a practice round out here Sunday and I'm so glad I did. I would have been lost without it," said Horan, who finished fourth in the state tournament last year. "I was even through 13 and then the end didn't go so well but I'm happy overall. The goal is to get out and go to state but I would have liked to have played better. I just lost it at the end."
Streamwood's Schneider, playing for the South Elgin co-op team, wasn't at all pleased with her 83, but it did get her to the next round.
"I'm not pleased," said Schneider, who was being observed by a coach from Illinois Wesleyan. "It was a really rough day. I was scrambling all over the place. I knew I'd probably have a good shot at getting out but I didn't have my A game today. This is probably the worst I've ever shot. But it's out of the way now and I'll shoot better."
Schneider's co-op teammate, Coyne, was taken by surprise at her first sectional qualifying round.
"I didn't think I'd make it," Coyne said. "I was putting really good today but it wasn't my best round."
Huntley's Anderberg, a returning sectional qualifier, was also happy just to survive.
"I'm happy it got me through," she said of her 87. "I would have liked to shoot better but, hey, it got me through."
The other individual qualifiers included Crystal Lake Central's Sarah Mieth (87), Michelle Schoch (93) and Ashley Booth (95).