Kaneland's Guyton takes clear aim at No. 1

There is only one possible way for Kaneland senior Hayley Guyton to improve upon her junior campaign: win the Class AA state tournament.

Guyton fired a career-low, second-day 2-under par 70 to force a sudden-death playoff against Conant senior Kris Yoo. Guyton failed to make par at the first to finish runner-up, but the senior enters the season full of confidence as evidenced by her stunning 72 from the back tees of the Geneva boys invitational on Thursday.

For the second year in a row Guyton will lead the Knights' boys team.

"I would say the biggest difference (from last year) is that (Guyton) is longer," Kaneland coach Mark Meyer said. "On the girls' side she can reach the par 5s in two; on the boys' side she can reach the long par-4s in two. That added distance is going to make a difference. I think she surprised a lot of people last year at state. I think she realized the sky's the limit. We kind of expect good things."

Guyton could have a tremendous advantage when the state tournament rolls around in October: the IHSA has relocated the tournament from Carbondale to Forsyth, near Decatur.

"I'm really excited to go there," Guyton said. "I was born in Aurora, but I actually lived in Decatur for 10 or 11 years. I have played the course (Hickory Point) a couple of times."

As skilled as she is as a player, Guyton has been focusing on the mental aspect of the game in the weeks leading into the official start of the season.

"That's what I'm working on is dealing with (the) pressure (of not letting rounds unravel)," Guyton said.

Guyton is not the only local player seeking a fourth consecutive trip to the state finals: St. Francis' Kayla Stueland, a resident of Geneva, has the same agenda.

"She definitely wants to get back downstate," St. Francis coach Matt Walsh said.

Stueland was in the top 10 as a sophomore.

The Upstate Eight Conference has been repeatedly represented in the state finals, and St. Charles East has designs on a third straight trip.

Nicole Rae is occupying the position deftly handled by former standouts Rachael Edwards and Jenny Niemiec. The latter adroitly handled the senior leadership skills upon Edwards' graduation last year, and Rae began the season in style: shooting a career-low 76 to lead the Saints to the team title at Barrington on Monday.

"(Rae) has to put herself in position to improve upon last year's performance," St. Charles East coach Rod Osborne said.

In addition to his six confirmed starters, the Hall of Fame coach has Corey Guckien, Meenakski Bhatia and Jane Noelker at his disposal.

But the Saints' road to conference supremacy has a significant roadblock: the presence of Batavia. The Bulldogs have won consecutive regional titles, and the squad may well have made its first trip to the team state finals had Kayla Lehman not been ill during the sectional. Tara Cullerton and Megan Ramp were at-large finalists for the Bulldogs last year; Alejandra Serrate and Abby Guazzelli are vastly improved, and Czerwonka adds even more depth after missing last season with a shoulder injury.

"We have high hopes," said first-year Batavia coach Morgan Connell. "Their work ethic is amazing. We've got the third, fourth, fifth players who are strong for us. I'm expecting them (to make a serious run in the postseason)."

"They'll certainly be a favorite for the conference and beyond," Osborne said his new league rival.

St. Charles North and Geneva have underclassmen anchoring their fortunes this fall. With two-time state qualifier Marin Beagley graduating, the North Stars' top role will be assumed by the sophomore Arianna Furrie. The North Stars' key could very well be Barr, the Northwestern-bound soccer player who is an exceptional athlete.

"We have to be consistent," St. Charles North coach Chris Patrick said. "We're not going to have those two low scores like we did last year with Marin and Arianna. Consistency (from players) two through six is going to be the key throughout the season."

Abby Luchtenburg has not attended her first class at Geneva yet, but the ninth-grader was brilliant in the Vikings' tryouts.

"She is a player," Geneva coach Eric Hatczel said of his prized freshman.

Hatczel has seasoned players in April Compreda, Jessie Matthiesen and Tara Richter; the remainder of the squad will be filled by youngsters.

"I have a crop of seven freshmen, which is great," Hatczel said. "It's just of matter of who is going to step up for the last two spots."

Rosary will be playing in memory of its coach this fall. Scott Walker died suddenly of a heart attack two months ago.

Jim Appel is also in his first year at Aurora Central Catholic. Blake is the No. 1 player for the Chargers, who do not have a senior in the program.

"The girls are starting to see what it takes to do well," said Appel.

St. Francis' Megan Van Thournout, who lives in St. Charles, augments Stueland as the Spartans' No. 2 player.

"We just want to stay competitive in the invites," said Walsh.

LaRi Mitchell is the top player at West Aurora.

"If LaRi played golf all the time she would be amazing," said West Aurora coach Chris Soulsby.

Committed to softball in the summer, Mitchell has shown promise with her raw athleticism. Soulsby has limited goals as the program continues to adjust to heavy graduation losses the last two years.

"I just want to see the scores continue to improve," he said. "Interest seems to be higher, especially with the freshmen and sophomores. They probably have the best athleticism, the best upside."

Girls golf at a glance

Projected starters: St. Charles East: Nicole Rae, sr., Paige Jordan, so., Anna Daley, so., Kate VenHorst, sr., Tori Tolbert, jr., Darby Crane, fr.; Batavia: Tara Cullerton, jr., Kayla Lehman, jr., Megan Ramp, sr., Alejandra Serrate, sr., Abby Guazzelli, sr., Kaitlyn Czerwonka, sr.; St. Charles North: Arianna Furrie, so., KK Barr, sr., Jordan McFarlane, so., Marissa Fencl, sr., Sarah Wolfe, jr., Jessica Grill, fr.; St. Francis: Kayla Stueland, sr., Megan Van Thournout, sr.; Geneva: Abby Luchtenburg, fr., April Compreda, jr., Jessie Matthiesen, sr., Tara Richter, jr.; Rosary: Lauren Hoss, sr., Liz Healy, sr., Rachel Phipps, sr., Julia Callahan, jr., Courtney Johnson, jr., Maddie Kombrink, jr.; West Aurora: LaRi Mitchell, jr., Rene Christiansen, sr., Jen Waters, jr., Alex Robertson, so., Kayla Vicory, so., Samantha O'Brien, fr.; Aurora Central Catholic: Danielle Blake, jr., Emily Thomas, so., Jennifer Brouch, jr., Emily Arch, jr., Megan Riechardt, jr., Lena Groom, jr.

In a league of her own: Kaneland senior Hayley Guyton, the No. 1 player on the Knights' boys team.

Key dates: Aug. 28, Hersey Invitational, Sept. 4, Homewood-Flossmoor Invitational, Sept. 11, Waukegan Invitational, Sept. 18, Rockford Guilford Invitational, Sept. 21, Batavia versus St. Charles East, Sept. 22, St. Charles East versus St. Charles North, Sept. 25, Naperville North Invitational, Week of Sept. 27, Conference championships, Oct. 4, St. Charles East at Wheaton Warrenville South.

Predicted state champions: Class A Effingham St. Anthony, Class AA Homewood-Flossmoor

- Compiled by Kevin McGavin