Girls golf: Burnett fires 78 to win Upstate Eight title

There's hunger for food and there's hunger for further success.

Elgin co-op junior Autumn Burnett won Wednesday's individual title at the Upstate Eight Conference tournament shooting a 78 at St. Andrews in West Chicago.

It was the lone below 80 score of the day.

"It's so stressful, but fun," Burnett said.

Elgin co-op, composed of students from South Elgin and Elgin this season, played at St. Andrews earlier on the schedule.

Burnett said that was helpful.

"You learn the layout of the course. Out of bounds is water. The greens are really fast and hilly. You have to keep a mental list," she said.

Wednesday was a good start to the postseason for many of the golfers competing.

"She (Burnett) is excited (about the postseason). She missed state by just one stroke (last year). She's coming in very determined," said coach Jennifer Menke.

Teammate Jade Mazenis finished second with an 87. She has finished in the top 10 in the last two invitationals the team competed in.

"You can't let bad holes get to you," Mazenis said.

Mazenis said she likes coming to high school golf with the encouragement of a team.

"There's support encouraging you to do better," she said.

In the team standings, Elgin co-op finished just two strokes behind winner Riverside`Brookfield's 362.

The rest of the co-op’s team competing whose scores were part of the final total were Abigail Wolf (97) and Avina Somvang (102)

Next for Elgin is the Class 2A Jacobs regional on Tuesday at Randall Oaks Golf Club in Dundee.

West Aurora shot a 393 to take third and Glenbard South was fourth with a 426. Emily Branch led the Blackhawks with a 92 and Kate Bruhl’s 93 was the best score for the Raiders.