Girls golf: Ray fires 74, leads Stevenson to Waukegan championship
Campbell Ray and the sun had something in common Saturday:
Both shone brightly at the 45th Waukegan girls golf invite at Bonnie Brook Golf Course.
A Stevenson sophomore, Ray — in only her second tour of the par-72 track — shot a third-place 74, pacing the Patriots to the team title at the 19-team tournament on a warm, picturesque day.
“My best shots today were par saves,” Ray said, alluding to several 10-foot putts. “It’s a pretty hard course. What made it fun today, what’s been fun about the season, is our team dynamic.
“We have a good one.”
And a talented one.
Saturday’s meet was a tough one, gloved hands down. The teams that finished in the top four at the Class 2A state tournament last fall — Glenbrook North, Hinsdale Central, Stevenson and Barrington — competed at the Brook. Stevenson shot a splendid aggregate of 305, ahead of Hinsdale Central (307), Glenbrook North (307), New Trier (324) and St. Charles North (333).
Scores from junior Sophia Joeng (75, 7th place) and sophomores Victoria Shao (76, 8th) and Lily Wang (80, 17th) also counted for Stevenson. Pats senior Allyson Duan had an 81.
“It’s been a season of ups and downs for us,” said Stevenson coach and Lake Zurich graduate Emma Degen. “Two weeks ago, I wouldn’t have believed we’d do as well as we did today. But we’ve been heading in a better direction lately. It took some pep talks, and they’re focusing on everything now. The girls have put in a ton of work.”
Hinsdale Central senior Toral Bhatt shot a team-low 74 (4th), followed by senior Elyssa Abdullah (75, 6th) and sophomores Sara Han (78) and Anika Danda (80).
“You need to have good course management at a course like this,” said Bhatt, a fourth-year varsity member who saved par at the 16th hole after her drive found water and her ensuing wedge shot traveled 88 yards.
Bhatt started playing golf at the age of 5 at the urging of her grandparents. But the thrill of whacking a clean drive or draining a tricky putt didn’t hold her interest initially.
Snacks at the course did.
“Getting to eat Kit Kats,” the Red Devil recalled, “was a good reason to keep golfing.”
Barrington sophomore Olivia Yoon had a sweet baptismal round at Bonnie Brook, carding a 79 (16th) to lead the Fillies’ sixth-place showing (348). She birdied Nos. 6, 11 and 13, with her best putt coming on the 6th — a 60-foot, hard left-to-right breaker.
“At this course, if you’re not straight (off the tee), you’re in for a tough day,” Yoon said. “I wasn’t super straight today.”
“Olivia,” Barrington coach Tim Martin said, “has improved her game across the board. She’s sneaky long and she plays with courage. To do what she did today, to shoot a round in the 70s against great competition at a great event … she was fantastic. I’m really proud of her.”
Glenbrook North senior and Illinois recruit Alexis Myers took medalist honors with a 3-under 69, which included a superb 33 on the back 9. Beaver Dam (Wis.) sophomore McKenna Nelson — the reigning Masters Drive, Chip and Putt champion (14-15 age group) — also shot a 69 but settled for runner-up honors because of a tiebreaker.
“My start did not go well,” Myers said. “My putts weren’t falling. Getting up-and-down on the 11th upped my confidence.
“Overall it was nice, winning here for the first time in my senior season.”
St. Charles North’s Kayla Beu emerged as the top freshman in the field, shooting a fifth-place 75. Carmel Catholic sophomore Idaly Sereno toured the course in 77 (9th).
Lakes’ top performer was senior Maia Becker (78, 11th). Senior Georgia Riley paced Naperville North with an 85, and Buffalo Grove junior Meagan Ryan and Hersey junior Heidi Fritz carded an 86 and a 91, respectively.
Maine South junior Sydney Hollingsworth led the Hawks with a 95.