Hampshire’s Ellett wins 2nd straight regional
The circumstances were just right for Hampshire senior Connie Ellett Wednesday, and she took full advantage.
Playing at a familiar course, great weather, and other players she knew well — not to mention being on top of her game — all added up for Ellett’s second straight Class AA regional girls golf championship.
Ellett, who won a regional title at Prairie Isle last year, mastered Timber Pointe in Poplar Grove Wednesday to the tune of a 2-under par 70 to win the Belvidere North regional. She will compete Monday in the Buffalo Grove sectional at Buffalo Grove Golf Course.
“She played a nice solid round of golf,” said Hampshire coach Sue Ellett, Connie’s mom. “Randy Schairer does a great job at Timer Pointe. It’s where we played our (Big Northern) conference meet the last three years and we missed going there for conference this year. It’s nice to go out of there with a bang.”
Connie Ellett, who finished second at the Fox Valley Conference tournament at Crystal Woods last week, shot a 37 on her first nine, Timber Pointe’s backside. She came back with a sizzling 33 on her back nine, carding 4 birdies and only 1 bogey. She missed a 5-foot putt on her final hole that could have shaved her score to 69.
“We gotta save some for Monday,” quipped Sue Ellett.
“The weather was beautiful and she had a healthier mindset than at conference I think. The familiarity with Timber Pointe helped and she has that postseason focus that seniors have. She said ‘I worked all summer for this so let’s go play.’ It was a nice friendly atmosphere and Connie was focused and businesslike today.”
Which made the Whip-Purs’ standout happy with her performance.
“It was a gorgeous day out and I hit the ball 30 times better than I did at conference,” she said. “I only missed three greens. I only; y had two 3-putts but they were both from far away. I made a lot more putts today than I usually do.
And she loved playing Timber Pointe.
“That course is one you need experience at to shoot well and my four years out there really helped,” she said. “It was a huge advantage for me.”
Ellett’s score Wednesday far outdistanced the 78 shot by Rockford Jefferson senior Cynthia Bounleutay.
And now Ellett will prepare for a course she’s only played once, that a recent practice round.
“I’m just going to take it one shot at a time,” said Ellett, who finished tied for 23rd at state last year. “I like the course. It sets up well for how I play. If I’m hitting the ball good I’ll be fine.”
Also at Timber Pointe Wednesday, the Huntley junior trio of Danielle Smith (108), Lorin Gorecki (110) and Gabby Young (111) made the cut and will play at Buffalo Grove on Monday.
Class A at St. Francis: Elgin Academy sophomore Miranda Kuzyk shot a 105 and St. Andrews and made the cut to the Westminster Christian sectional Monday at Golf Club of Illinois.