High school golf: Stevenson girls, Hersey and Wheaton Academy boys start strong on first day of state tournaments

Stevenson’s girls golf team got off to a good start in its quest to win a state championship Friday, shooting a 309 at Hickory Point Golf Course in Forsyth on the first day of the Class 2A state tournament.

The 21-over total leaves the Patriots in second place, just three shots behind Glenbrook North heading into Saturday’s second and final day of play.

Junior Nanette Song led Stevenson with a 2-over 74, good for eighth place on the individual leaderboard. Ava Alimissis was next at 77, Sophia Joeng shot a 78, Victoria Shao 80 and Campbell Ray and Emma Fiocchi both had 81s.

Hinsdale Central sits in sixth place at 325, and Benet is seventh with a 330.

Barrington junior Reese Wallace, Conant sophomore Madeline Gutierrez and Downers Grove South senior Miah Wanserski are tied for fourth with even par 72s, three shots back of leader Grace Leber from New Trier.

Benet freshman Lauren Gauss (73), Fremd junior Alia Brazeau (74) and Buffalo Grove senior Courtney Beerheide (75) are also in the top 10.

Boys state: Hersey is in the running for a state trophy at the Class 3A state tournament at The Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington.

Hersey finished at 302, trailing only Evanston (291) and New Trier (296). York is fourth at 305, Hinsdale Central fifth at 307, Geneva seventh at 312 and Barrington eighth at 314.

Seniors Owen Spokas and Kyle Carlson led Hersey with 74s, Colin Lockwood shot a 75 and Henry Esposito and Tucker Hemminger had 79s.

Evanston sophomore Lester Low and Moline junior Isaac Rumler set a blistering pace in the hunt for the individual championship with a 65 and 66, respectively.

Nolan Adamczyk from Hampshire and Benet senior Caden Petersen carded 70s to sit five shots back in a tie for fourth place. Hinsdale Central sophomore Michael Jorski (71) and Libertyville junior Finn Sullivan (72) also are in the top 10.

At the Class 2A state tournament at Weibring Golf Club in Normal, Wheaton Academy’s 297 was good for a three-shot lead over Washington as the Warriors bid for a state championship.

Wheaton Academy junior Owen Coniaris fired a 69 to take the overall lead with Nolan Eccles from Dunlap. Nick Ratini (72), Ben Patel (76) and Clayton Barnett (80) also had counting scores for the Warriors.

St. Viator is in sixth place at 307 led by Mac Dean’s 74.

At the Class 1A tournament at Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington, Harvest Christian finished in second place at 317, four shots back of Teutopolis.

Liam Lodding led the Lions at 73 followed by Joshua Smerek (78), Ryan Foster (82) and Jayden Zwemke (84).

Timothy Christian is tied for sixth at 328 with Miles Van Prooyen in sixth at 75.