Hampshire's Ellett headed to NIU
Like mother, like daughter.
Hampshire senior golfer Taylor Ellett has not only accepted a scholarship offer from Northern Illinois University, she will be playing for the same coach as her mom, Sue, did when she played for the Huskies.
“But she's a heck of a lot better than I ever was,” laughed Sue Ellett Tuesday.
Taylor Ellett is parlaying a high school career that saw her qualify for the IHSA state finals all four years and an amateur career that has been nothing short of sparkling into a collegiate opportunity.
“It was definitely one of my goals at the beginning of my sophomore year to get a Division I scholarship and be able to play right away,” Taylor Ellett said. “I don't want to go in there and be a No. 6 and have to compete to go on the trips.”
At NIU Ellett will play for coach Pam Tyska, who is in her 24th season as the Huskies' coach, the longest tenured head coach of any sport at NIU. Tyska came to NIU in 1986 and coach Sue Ellett the last two years Sue played for NIU.
“The coach is great to play for and I think she'll be a great role model for me,” said Taylor Ellett, who carries a 4.0 GPA, ranks 12th in her class of 222 and will study elementary education at NIU.
“(NIU) has always been one of my top schools. When a school has an interest in you it makes you excited. (Tyska) paid attention to me and not just because she knows my mom. She wouldn't have watched me play if she didn't think I could play for her team.”
Ellett, who finished 20th in the Class AA state finals this season and helped lead Hampshire to three straight Big Northern Conference championships, had a stellar summer season as well. She won the CDGA Junior Amateur championship at Mill Creek and reached the championship flight of the Women's Illinois State Amateur, finishing 18th among mostly college golfers. She was also 11th in the Illinois Girls State Junior Amateur, and she showed her consistency by finishing the summer season as the leading player in low scoring average in the IJGA Senior Division.
At NIU, Ellett will call Kishwaukee Country Club her home course, but the Huskies also get practice time at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, the host course of the Solheim Cup. She'll also play one season with a former area star as Bartlett graduate Carissa Burdi is currently a junior at NIU.
“It's Division I, it's close to home, they play on a great golf course and it was a substantial scholarship offer. It was pretty hard to say no,” said Sue Ellett, who in addition to being Taylor's mom is Hampshire's coach. “As a parent it's reassuring knowing that she'll be playing for a great mentor who has LPGA credentials that are outstanding. We're excited that she'll be able to play right away.
“We went on the visit this weekend and Taylor got to meet a lot of the current players and she figured she'd fit in with them right away.”
Sue Ellett sees no reason why her daughter won't flourish at the collegiate level.
“She's knocked 3-4 shots off her score every year and she's been playing since she was 10,” Sue Ellett said. “We're hoping her better golf is still ahead.”