Conant's Yoo takes state tournament lead

After Friday's first round of the girls golf state meet, defending Class AA girls state champion Kris Yoo is right where she left off last year.

Leading the field.

The Wisconsin-bound senior fired a 1-over 73 in the cold and windy conditions at Hickory Ridge Golf Course in Carbondale.

She leads a group of five golfers who are all tied for second with 74s - Homewood Flossmoor junior Ashley Armstrong, New Trier junior Kristin Wright, Flossmoor junior Michelle Mayer, Carbondale junior Caroline Kwak and Sterling senior Ashleigh Rush.

Five more golfers shot 75s, including Stevenson freshman Stephanie Miller and Lakes senior Abbie Horan. They are tied for seventh.

"The course played long because of the wind, and it was cold," said Yoo, who had 3 birdies. "Other than that, it was OK. I could have done better, but I'll take it."

Yoo started the back nine with three straight bogeys but recovered nicely with 1 birdie and pars the rest of the way.

"We were a little concerned there but Kris knows how to put it back together," said Cougars coach Diana Johannesen. "For her to hold together with as cold as it was, the drizzle and wind, she played great."

Yoo finished her round by saving par on No. 18 after hitting a tree on her second shot. She made a 6-foot putt to finish 2-over on the back nine, after a 1-under on the front.

"I need to make more pars and birdies (today)," said Yoo, who tees off at 10:27 a.m. today.

Horan was in Yoo's group on Friday.

The Lakes veteran shot even par on the front nine and was 3 over on the back.

"She played very well," Yoo said. "She's very solid."

Today, Horan will tee off in the same group as Miller, who said she was able to learn a lot about the course in her practice round Thursday.

"That helped a lot," she said. "There are some blind tee shots. Thereare dog legs right and left. And so many hills, too. And it was cold, about 46 degrees."

But Miller hardly played like a rookie on the course, posting a 38 and 37.

"She was hitting a good ball," said Stevenson coach Andy Conneen. "But she left some putts out there which could have made her scorer lower."

Miller, who started her round with a double bogey, said she was strongest off the tee. "I didn't get in a lot of trouble, maybe a few times in there rough."

Conneen liked her composure.

"She had some frustrating shots but then she came back from them," he said. "She really showed her fortitude all day long."

Other area golfers and their scores were: Barrington senior Taylor Quinn (82), Fremd senior Kelly Voigt (83), Buffalo Grove freshman Grace Kil (83), St. Viator senior Hallie Dunn (87), Prospect senior Ellie Tixier (88) and St. Viator senior Abby Dickey (92).

Tixier shot a 46 on the front and 42 on the back.

"Ellie kind of struggled on the front nine and played real well on the back," said Knights coach Jim Hamann. "She played with a lot more confidence on the back. She was relaxed and that's why she did better."

Yoo would love to do even better today.

"I just have to play my game," said the Mid-Suburban League, regional and sectional champ. "I just have to make a couple of changes from (Friday)."

"Hopefully, she can do it (win title)," Hamann said.

"She just has to play her game and keep her tempo," Johannesen said. "It's supposed to be warmer (Saturday). I was very happy with how she played. She held her composure. She was very focused and very determined. She kept her goal in sight."

Yoo is trying to become the ninth two-time champion in state history and the seventh player to win back-to-back individual titles.