Defending runner-up Guyton headed back to state
Hayley Guyton nearly had her season come to an unceremonious end at the Class AA Nazareth girls golf sectional on Monday.
But the Kaneland senior, the defending state runner-up, snared the final individual berth at Willow Crest Golf Club in Oak Brook to earn her fourth consecutive state finals appearance.
“I barely made it, but I did, Guyton said after firing an 80 to secure the final at-large berth in the 108-player field. “Even though I cut it close, I made it.
None of the four local teams in the 12-school field made the final grade, to be conducted for the first time this weekend at Hickory Point Golf Course in Forsyth.
St. Charles East (338) and Wheaton Warrenville South (334) had their two-year team state runs end with their respective fourth- and fifth-place finishes.
Batavia (346) was sixth; Benet finished eighth with a 356.
New Trier (312) won the tournament behind a 72 from top player Elizabeth Szokol; Lyons Township was second at 324, with Loyola Academy snaring the final team slot at 326.
Guyton nearly had her season unravel on the par-3 eighth hole.
The senior was assessed a penalty when her ball moved after grounding her club, and a second trip to the same bunker resulted in a quadruple-bogey 7.
“I knew I had to forget about it, Guyton said. “I got really upset. I felt like I played pretty well. I was just frustrated with myself for all the bogeys.
St. Francis' Kayla Stueland was paired with Guyton in the penultimate group of individual qualifiers.
The Geneva resident became a three-time state qualifier, despite playing her final two holes in 3-over, with an overall 77.
“The only thing that matters is that I'm going to state, Stueland said. “I just wanted to be consistent today. I didn't want to have any bad shots that took me out of it.
Stueland had multiple looks at birdie, only to have all of them fail to meet their intended destination.
“At least I gave myself opportunities, Stueland said. “I'm going to make a birdie eventually.
St. Charles East senior Nicole Rae had a blistering start to her round, making a pair of birdies with six pars on her opening eight holes.
But the Saints' leader made a triple bogey to conclude her outward nine.
Rae eventually settled for a 77 to tie Stueland and two others for sixth-place overall.
But unlike the last two years, Rae will not have any teammates making the downstate journey with her.
“I definitely had a good start, which helped me in the long run, Rae said. “(Hole) nine was not a very good one, and the whole back was pretty much the same. I wanted to try and forget about (the triple).
Kate VenHorst had her St. Charles East golfing career come to a close with an 87.
Batavia standouts Tara Cullerton and Megan Ramp missed in their repeat bids for state appearances.
But Batavia junior Kayla Lehman learned a valuable lesson in making the state cut with a 78.
The junior was assessed a 2-stroke penalty for testing the sand to begin her back nine, but Lehman played her final eight holes in level par to finish with a 78.
“I really shot a 76, Lehman said. “I had to learn it the hard way. I totally agree with (the ruling).
St. Charles North sophomore Ariana Furrie and St. Francis' Meg Van Thournout, who hails from St. Charles, missed a possible playoff by 2 shots with their identical 82s.
Brooke Kochevar continued the trend of qualifying for multiple finals appearances.
The junior southpaw from Glenbard West will not only make a third straight trip to the state finals but also defended her sectional championship in the process.
Kochevar ended her day with 13 consecutive pars to offset a pair of bogeys in her triumphant 2-over 71.
“I played (a practice round) last Wednesday and I didn't play too well, Kochevar said. “I just wanted to play better this time. My driving and putting were both very good. Everything was good today.
WW South sophomore Renee Solberg will play in her second state tournament in as many years this weekend.
“That will definitely be different, Solberg said of having no teammates this year. “It will be kind of lonely. I wasn't sure how the team was going to do today. I wanted to go out and get down to business.
DuPage Valley Conference champion Sarah Skurla had her four-year WW South career come to a close with a 90.
Elaine Krebs and Christy Callahan had matching 89s to pace Benet.