Stevenson's Miller aims for successful sophomore encore

Stephanie Miller had quite a memorable freshman year at Stevenson.

Let's see:

• She was the top golfer on the team and finished eighth in the state.

• She decided to join the bowling team the day before tryouts, ultimately averaged 150 and even had a high-game of 209 - and yet had never previously played on a bowling team or even in a league.

• She had straight-A's in the classroom. Not even one B. "I'm going to try to do the same this year. I guess I'm a good time manager," she said.

Miller, 15, a sophomore, is a dominant golfing force in the state, not just the North Suburban Conference. And, "the best golfer I have ever coached," said Stevenson's Andy Conneen, now in his ninth season as head coach and 13th teaching social studies at the Lincolnshire school.

Miller's sophomore season is looking promising, already. She shot a 75 this past week to finish second in the individual competition of the Prospect Invitational, one shot behind New Trier's Kristen Wright. Miller, whose career best high school score is 71, was playing the Mount Prospect course for the first time, and endured 3 double bogeys and a pair of 3-putt holes.

"I was thrilled with my freshman season. It was great," Miller said. "My short game was really good last year. It got me up and down a lot. If I put myself around the green, I had confidence that I could get it up and down. If not, I could chip it close.

"The state tournament was a lot of fun. I played with the best girls. I played pretty well, though I know it could have been better."

Miller has spent countless hours this summer at local driving ranges and playing in a lot of tournaments, too. Including the 35th Junior PGA Championship, held at Sycamore Hills Golf Club in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Even though she missed the cut by two strokes, Miller was pleased with her rounds of 79 and 78.

"It was a lot of fun and some of the top 25 girls in the country were there," Miller said. "Playing (a course that was) 6,400 yards, I was pretty happy with (my results.) And getting to watch, and learn from, the best girls in the country was great."

And she was playing up, competing in the 16-18 year-old division.

Cassy Isagawa, 16, of Wailuku, Hawaii, won the championship in a playoff with rounds of 72, 72 and 69.

"I know I can play with these (older) girls. I wasn't intimidated," Miller said. "I feel I have more experience heading into this season, so that will prepare me more."

Miller said she doesn't have a particular style of play.

"I just hit it straight, hit fairways and greens, and hopefully make my putts," she said.

She's learned, and been coached by, her dad, Alan, a scratch golfer.

"She has worked so hard on all aspects of her game during the summer, particularly putting," Conneen said. "She's definitely taken that next step.

"Stephanie has great composure and a really high level of expectation for herself and her teammates. She's only a sophomore, but reaches out to everyone on the team - from three-year varsity seniors to newcomers.

"She's a leader, a great golfer and just a very good person,"

And a good bowler, too.

"That was a fun experience," Miller said of the bowling team, "and I did better than I thought (I would do). (Bowling and golf) are basically the same sport. You just have to pick your spot, go through all of the mental stuff and hit the target. The bowling helped me focus more, to get my mindset ready for what I needed to do."

Miller said she's undecided if she'll bowl again this winter.

"Stephanie is a fierce competitor and she has high standards for herself, which is hard to teach at this level," Conneen said. "And having a really nice swing doesn't hurt either."