Prospect in close trophy proximity once again

Prospect's bid for a fourth straight trophy at the Class AA state girls golf finals is within makeable putting distance.

Led by senior Kacie O'Donnell's 79 and three scores of 84, the defending state champs are 9 strokes off the lead and only 3 strokes from third place after the first day of action at the Hickory Point Golf Course (par 72) in Decatur.

O'Donnell's 79 put her in a tie for 17th while senior Isabella Flack, sophomore Kate Ponzi and sophomore Samantha Accardi each landed in a seven-way tie for 46th with their 84s.

The highest-finishing Mid-Suburban League representative on day one was conference champion Reena Sulkar.

The Barrington sophomore fired a 5-over 77, good for a 3-way tie for ninth place.

The co team leaders are New Trier and Hinsdale Central (322), followed by Wheaton Warrenville South (328), Loyola (330) and Prospect (331).

Leading the individual competitors are Neuqua Valley sophomore Jessica Yuen (defending champion), Lincoln-Way West senior Alexis Biedrzycki and Rockford Guilford freshman Madasyn Pettersen, who each shot 1-over par 73s. There is also a three-way tie for fourth with scores of 75.

"The golf course was extremely wet," said Knights coach Jim Hamann. "There was zero roll. And with the 25-mph wind, it was very difficult conditions today."

O'Donnell handled them with her usual steady performance, carding a one-over 37 on the course's front nine including a tap-in birdie putt on hole No 6.

"Kacie played very well all day," Hamann said. "She left a few strokes out there and we are hoping for another good round tomorrow."

"I'd like to putt better (today)," O'Donnell said.

Accardi and Ponzi each birdied Hickory's par-4 first hole while Accardi also recorded a birdie on the par 3 16th.

"I thought it was real nice," Ponzi said of her first state finals appearance. "We were prepared very well. We had our game plan set and everything went accordingly.

"We'll just go out (today) and see how it is. We'll adjust to the conditions if we have to and make a new game plan."

Accardi and Ponzi both shots 42s on the front and back.

"I'm real excited with what I saw from the two sophomores who both played well," Hamann said. "They played their games, handled the conditions and had a great attitudes all day."

The Ferris State-bound Flack (also 42-42) went 1-over par on her final five holes.

"I was hitting the fairways and making a lot of up and downs which was really nice," she said. "More than anything, I'm excited about (today).

"It might be a little chillier. We just want to attack. We're only a few strokes from the lead so we want to keep playing like we did (Friday)."

"Isabella had a fantastic finish," Hamann said. "She closed out like a champion."

The Knights have been state champions two of the last three years and in between took second place.

"We're in the mix and excited about where we're at," Hamann said. "Our goal is to win day two and do the best we can."

"If we just go out, play and have fun, we'll be fine," said O'Donnell, who placed second to Sulkar in the MSL meet three weeks ago at Palatine Hills.

Only a sophomore, Sulkar showed her composure again, negotiating the Hickory layout with 2 birdies (par-3 No. 4 and par-5 No. 11) and 10 pars for a 77.

"It was a spectacular round for Reena," said Fillies coach Jodi Schoeck, whose watched the Fillies' Pam Buff take third place in the 1996 tournament at Illinois State.

The only rough spot was a triple bogey on the course's par-4 18th hole which was Sulkar's ninth.

"Otherwise, she played great under tough conditions," Schoeck added. "The wind was crazy and really picked up in the back nine. But she overcame it and made some key 4 and 5-foot putts to keep herself in contention. We are thrilled being in the top nine."

Sulkar tied for 28th with a 158 (76-82) last fall.

"This was a great way to start her second year down here," Schoeck said. "She knew what to expect from last season and she got to play with some of the top players down here so it's exciting to watch."

Conant coach Megan Hebert was excited about her two players making their state finals debuts.

Junior Megan Nagorzanski shot an 82 (tie for 32nd) while senior Carly Bryeans carded an 84.

"There's room for improvement but I'm thrilled with both of them on their first day at state," Hebert said. "They both played really well and made long putts for birdies."

Nagorzanski started her round with a 20-foot putt for par on No. 10 and also made a 6-footer for birdie on her last hole (No. 9).

"It was definitely a different experience playing at this kind of an event," Nagorzanski said. "I think it's easier to play better when you are going against such high level players.

"You definitely had to adjust to the conditions out here. Getting that birdie to start out made me more confident."

Bryeans' birdie came on the par-3 16th where she rolled home a 20-footer.

"There was a lot of rain down here so there was some casual water," Hebert said. "It ws getting real windy for the back nine so you definitely had to think about every shot.

"We just have to come back (today) and have fun. That's the important thing."

Fremd's JaeHee Hur (40-41) shot a solid round of 81 to find herself tied for 27th while teammate Haezi Jung finished with an 85, tied for 54th.

Coach Christine Vlaming's juniors are making their first appearances in Decatur.

Elk Grove's Erin Walz, only the second Grenadier to play in the state finals, shot a 93.