Girls golf: Scouting Lake County

NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY CONFERENCE

ANTIOCH

Coach: Bill Hamill

Last season: 10th in North Suburban Conference tournament, sixth in Class AA Warren regional

Returning golfers: Hannah Cook (Sr.), Rachel Price (Sr.), Abigail Tyrell (Sr.), Taylor Comer (Jr.), Karley Rogalski (So.), Samantha Brown (So.)

Newcomers: Emily Pedersen (Fr.), Debbie Blevan (So.)

Season outlook: The program continues to grow. The Sequoits opened up Wednesday with a loss against Grant but shot a 220. "You're never happy with a 220, but it's actually our second-best score since I've taken over the team," second-year coach Bill Hamill said. "Shooting a 220 the first time out, I'm looking for better things than that." Hannah Cook, a four-year varsity member, led the Sequoits with a 48 but she averaged 89 for 18 holes last year, Hamill said. Fellow seniors Rachel Price and Abigail Tyrell also have played on varsity since their freshman year. Sophomore Samantha Brown missed qualifying for the sectional by 1 shot last fall.

GRANT

Coach: A.J. Havenga

Last season: fifth in North Suburban Conference tournament, fourth in Class AA Warren regional

Returning golfers: KiLynn Gold (Jr.), Kylie Diana (Jr.), Maddy Lantz (Jr.), Lexie Glunz (Jr.), Haley Copenhaver (Jr.)

Newcomers: Kristen Carroll (Jr.), Sami Miller (Jr.)

Season outlook: Led by transfer KiLynn Gold, who qualified for state, the Bulldogs reversed their conference record from a year ago, improving from 3-10 in 2014 to 10-3. "We hope to improve on that record as we move into the new (Northern Lake County) conference," coach A.J. Havenga said. "With the help of many junior returners who all have two years of varsity golf experience under their belt, we hope to be atop the conference and be competitive into October." Grant qualified four golfers for sectionals in Class AA last year. Gold, Kylie Diana and Maddy Lantz return for their junior year. Brianna Burgeson, a two-time sectional qualifier, graduated. Diana and Lantz have played varsity since they were freshmen.

GRAYSLAKE CO-OP

Coach: Scott Ewen

Last season: eighth in Class AA Warren regional

Returning golfers: Corrine Larson (Sr.)

Newcomers: Sophie Jensen (Jr.)

Season outlook: The third-year co-op squad received good news in the off-season, as junior Sophie Jensen moved back for her junior year. She and her family moved to Minnesota for her sophomore year. Jensen was part of Grayslake's sectional-qualifying team as a freshman. Besides Jensen and senior Corrine Larson, however, the squad is young. A dozen girls are new to the team. "Even though Sophie and Corrine are the only two returning players with true varsity experience, I think we will still look to be competitive within the newly formed NLCC," coach Scott Ewen said. "A lot of our golfers are new to golf, but I think they will improve quickly, and as the season progresses I hope to see our scores drops. We are especially excited to have quite a few freshmen in the program this year and hope to see this pay off in the coming years."

LAKES

Coach: Rebecca Schilz

Last season: ninth in North Suburban Conference tournament, seventh in Class AA Warren regional

Returning golfers: Hannah Castelvecchi (So.), Camryn Jones (So.), Megan Klein (So.), Anna Metzger (So.)

Newcomers: Megan Cellucci, Bella Poli, Alex Scrogham

Season outlook: The Eagles boasted a strong freshman turnout last season, and their young players continue to get better. Lakes opened its season with a 161 in beating Grayslake at Brae Loch this week.

NORTH SUBURBAN CONFERENCE

LAKE ZURICH

Coach: Mel Fox

Last season: eighth in North Suburban Conference tournament, 10th in Class AA Barrington regional

Returning golfers: Ally Tucker (Sr.), Kaitlin Vages (Sr.), Kelsey Kee (Jr.), Alex Leitl (Jr.), Kathleen Murphy (Jr.), Abby Peng (Jr.), Grace Loverde (So.), Taylor Schwab (So.)

Newcomers: Kaylee Biergans (Jr.), Sonja Brueggemann (Jr.), Dayna Morga (Jr.), Amanda Russo (Jr.), Crista Ventrone (Jr.), Sophia Skady (So.), Debbie Chung (Fr.), Haley Czabaj (Fr.), Alyson Kee (Fr.), Grace Lambertson (Fr.), Mary Maksud (Fr.)

Season outlook: The Bears return a veteran squad and earned a one-stroke win over Grant this week. Junior Kelsey Kee led the way with a 46 (second place), as the Bears carded a 205. "Our goal is to be competitive and have a better record from last year," coach Mel Fox said. "We are hoping to qualify for sectional. Five of the varsity golfers from last year have returned and have played over the summer, so we should to be competitive with the other teams in our conference." Juniors Kee and Alex Leitl as well as senior Kaitlin Vages will lead the team. Fox says sophomores Grace Loverde and Taylor Schwab played a lot over the summer and have shown much improvement from last year, while freshmen Alyson Kee and Debbie Chung have showed lots of promise at practice this week. "We will continue to work on improving our short games and putting this season," Fox said. "The girls are also aiming to shoot personal bests. We are looking forward to a winning season."

LIBERTYVILLE

Coach: Greg Pedersen

Last season: first in North Suburban Conference tournament, first in Class AA Warren regional, third in Glenbrook North sectional, seventh in state meet

Returning golfers: Simone Mikaelian (Sr.), Megan Sturonas (Sr.), Madeleine Hollinger (Sr.), Colby Roberts (Jr.)

Newcomers: Ryan Spracklen (Sr.), Sydney Spracklen (Sr.), Lauren Kavathas (Jr.), Emma Milowski (So.), Grace Boileau (So.)

Season outlook: The Wildcats return their top two scorers, seniors Simone Mikaelian and Megan Sturonas, from last year's state-qualifying team (first state-qualifying team since 2004). Libertyville has won the last two NSC titles and hasn't lost a match in over two years. Mikaelian qualified individually for state as a freshman and sophomore and was the 2015 NSC runner-up to Lake Forest's Emily Young, who graduated. Both Mikaelian and Sturonas are four-year varsity golfers. "Should be big seasons for Simone and Megan," coach Greg Pedersen said. "Both are talented and driven to make the team the best it can be, and I think both realize this is their last season to enjoy high school golf." Maggie Piazzi, Katherine Stegman and Natalie Quist all played at state as seniors, and Pedersen doesn't underestimate their absence this season. "We lost a few seniors who anchored the team last year," Pedersen said. "To be successful again, we're going to need to see improvement and immediate contribution from a group of kids who are in open competition right now to claim those last few varsity spots. We need to know that if one girl doesn't have her best day, we have another girl whose score still gets the job done. Madeleine (Hollinger), Colby (Roberts) and the others put in work over the summer, but they need to step up under the pressure of the competitive golf season. We aren't concerned about making it to state. We want to take things one match at a time and grind our way through the competitive North Suburban Conference schedule."

MUNDELEIN

Coach: Barb Hartwig

Last season: fourth in North Suburban Conference tournament, fifth in Class AA Warren regional

Returning golfers: Isabella Loverde (Sr.)

Newcomers: Tori Zanoni (Jr.), Libby Burmeister (Jr.), Ryan Wilson (Fr.)

Season outlook: Sectional-qualifier Isabella Loverde returns for her senior season and fourth on varsity, but fellow sectional-qualifiers Megan Wiese and Grace Gotlund graduated. The Mustangs also lost Darin Chaichitatorn to graduation. "With graduating three varsity players, we are excited to have three new girls and enough for a team," coach Barb Hartwig said. "We may be lacking experience, but definitely not enthusiasm. This group is willing to work hard, and we look forward to a much-improved finish."

STEVENSON

Coach: Emma Degen

Last season: second in North Suburban Conference tournament, fourth in Class AA Barrington regional

Returning golfers: Katie Hannahs (Jr.), Olivia Hancock (Jr.), Olivia Stomberg (Jr.)

Newcomers: Gina Shanley (Jr.), Tanya Chanprung (So.), Joyce Bai (Fr.)

Season outlook: Never mind the youth (no seniors). Olivia Stomberg has played varsity the last two seasons and qualified for sectionals as a sophomore. "As you can see, we are a young team, but we will still be competitive in our conference," second-year coach Emma Degen said. "We lost some strong competitors in Myra Peterson and Alexia Fidman (sectional qualifiers), but I believe we will be stronger as a team as a whole. We have a very promising group of freshmen, including Joyce Bai who had very impressive tryout rounds, and we are excited to see how her freshman season goes. ... (Katie) Hannahs, (Olivia) Hancock, (Tanya) Chanprung and (Gina) Shanley have worked hard this summer, and it has shown so far. We are looking forward to what this group can put together this fall and are hoping for a sectional trip together."

WARREN

Coach: Leigh Ann Mondrawickas-Boncher

Last season: sixth in North Suburban Conference tournament, third in Class AA Warren regional, 11th in Glenbrook North sectional

Returning golfers: Kelsey Campbell (Sr.), Nicole Urquhart (Sr.), Ellie Bousson (Jr.), Annika Johnson (Jr.), Anna Telling (Sr.), Katrina Steffy (Sr.)

Newcomers: Chloe Morrissey (Fr.)

Season outlook: The Blue Devils qualified for the sectional last fall and welcome back four of the players who teed it up in the regional: seniors Kelsy Campbell and Nicole Urquhart and juniors Ellie Bousson and Annika Johnson. Izzy Cordova, a three-time sectional qualifier, graduated. Seniors Katrina Steffy, Anna Telling and Urquhart have all been on varsity since they were freshmen. "We look forward to what this season will bring," said Leigh Ann Mondrawickas-Boncher, who's in her 13th season as Blue Devils coach. "With the leadership and experience of our returning varsity players and the addition of freshman Chloe Morrissey, the team has the potential to accomplish great things and be very competitive. We are fortunate to have more depth at both levels, which will push all of our players to work hard and achieve their best day in and day out."

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

CARMEL

Coach: Jill Franz

Last season: first in ESCC tournament, second in Class AA Warren regional, seventh in Glenbrook North sectional

Returning golfers: Erin Kehoe (Sr.), Danielle Savovich (Sr.), Charlotte Roberts (Jr.)

Newcomers: Victoria Giambrone (Jr.), Julia Zimmer (So.), Maggie Kotek (So.), Sydney Faerber (Fr.)

Season outlook: A veteran squad led by four-year varsity stars Alexa Amato (Dayton) and Kayla Ryan helped the Corsairs win the ESCC championship for the third year in a row last fall. Amato qualified for the Class AA state meet. Eva Savovich also graduated, but the Corsairs still should be competitive this season. Seniors Erin Kehoe and Danielle Savovich and junior Charlotte Roberts will lead the way. Four-year varsity starter Kehoe was a part of the three ESCC-title teams, while Danielle Savovich contributed on the last two. "They both are solid, hardworking individuals who will be leaders to a younger, growing Corsairs team," coach Jill Franz said. In the Libertyville invite at Pine Meadow on Thursday, Savovich (83), Kehoe (86) and Roberts (87) all shot well, but they were Carmel's only golfers to break 100.

CENTRAL SUBURBAN LEAGUE

VERNON HILLS

Coach: Steve Downey

Last season: seventh in North Suburban Conference tournament, eighth in Class AA Barrington regional

Returning golfers: Faith Jung (Sr.), Becky Bahlmann (Sr.), Ally Ripes (Sr.), Lauren Ellis (So.), Grace Im (So.), Bayasa Hayanhirvaa (Jr.), Maggie Swanson (Jr.)

Newcomers: Abby Finerty (Fr.), Jacki Park (So.)

Season outlook: Steve Downey takes over the Cougars from longtime coach Jim Seward. "There is a lot of change this year for the program," said Downey, whose JV coach is also new. "We are also changing conferences from the NSC to the CSL, which means new teams and new courses." Faith Jung enters her fourth season on varsity and last fall qualified for sectionals in Class AA for the third year in a row. "We have high hopes for her once the state series begins in October," Downey said.