Stevenson's Miller wins sectional
ROCKFORD Stephanie Miller thought she had shot a 1-under-par 71 on Monday when asked about her round in the Rockford Guilford Class 2A girls golf sectional.
But the Stevenson sophomore went back to the scorer's area at Ingersoll Golf Course to grab her score card just to make sure.
“Even better, Miller said with a smile of her 70 on the 5,460-yard course.
Miller still hopes the best is yet to come after she earned medalist honors by 3 shots over Hampshire's Connie Ellett. Miller had 5 birdies and just missing a sixth on the 18th hole prevented her from achieving one of her goals.
“I was so close to the 60s, Miller said of matching her 18-hole best of 69. “I can't wait (for this weekend). I want to go so low.
“State in the 60s. That's what I'm going to try for.
Miller will be shooting for that Friday and Saturday in the girls state tournament at Hickory Point Golf Course in downstate Maroa. She tied for eighth place last year.
“I'm so excited, Miller said. “It was so much fun last year.
The scary part of Miller's stellar performance on a picture-perfect mid-October afternoon was she only hit six fairways. She made up for it with her irons and putter en route to the most birdies she's had in a round.
“I was way off with the driver, said Miller, who had 30 putts. “It wasn't the best but it came around on the back though.
“If I put myself in trouble off the tee I could get myself on the green in close and I could chip and putt.
Miller, who led Stevenson to fifth place with 333, did reach one goal by winning a sectional crown. Last year she finished behind two-time state champion Kris Yoo of Conant.
“Last year there were a lot of good girls and this year there were a lot of good girls, too, Miller said. “I wanted to go low and see what I could do.
Prospect won the team title (315) as Allison Walsh took third with a 74. Highland Park (319), with 78s from Nicole Feierberg and Jane Seder, and the Crystal Lake Co-op (326) claimed the other team qualifying spots.
Three Lake County golfers just missed making the group of 10 individuals who advanced to state and weren't on qualifying teams. The cutoff was 81.
Senior Marilyn Stone shot 82 for ninth-place Libertyville. Erin Walker of 10th-place Warren and Emily Whitemarsh of Mundelein shot 83.
Lauren Groody shot 85 to lead 11th-place Vernon Hills. Barrington's Kelly Muskat and Buffalo Grove's Grace Kil shot 79s to qualify for state.