Girls golf: Stevenson places second behind Glenbrook North at state meet
Stevenson’s girls golf team tried to knock two-time reigning Class 2A champion Glenbrook North off its perch Saturday in Decatur.
Glenbrook North’s Spartans wobbled, briefly but maintained their lofty status, capturing the program’s third straight state title with a two-day, 28-over-par total of 604 at the par-72 Hickory Point Golf Course.
Stevenson’s Patriots (609), which held a 1-stroke lead over Glenbrook North through 10 holes Saturday, finished runner-up for the fourth time in five seasons.
“Glenbrook North earned it, big-time, by making long putts and by being clutch in the end,” said Stevenson coach Emma Degen, whose squad featured only one senior, Sophia Joeng (32nd-place tie, 158). “It was back and forth there for a while.
“It hurts, for now,” she added. “But we’re still phenomenally deep, with a lot to look forward to next year.”
Pats junior Nanette Song placed 14th with a 151, just ahead of classmate Ava Alimissis’ 15th-place-tying 152. Next for Stevenson was junior Victoria Shao (155, 24th-place tie), followed by Joeng and junior Campbell Ray (159, 36th-place tie). Degen deployed sophomore Lily Wang, who shot an impressive 73, in Saturday’s lineup after Emma Fiocchi, another sophomore, completed Hickory Point in 81 strokes on Friday.
Alimissis, seventh at state a year ago, drained “at least seven” 10-foot putts Saturday.
“I tried to stay calm all day,” said Alimissis, adding she never glanced at the leaderboard. “I heard later how back and forth it got with Glenbrook North and our team. With each 10-foot putt, my confidence grew.
“We’re going to be strong again next year. We lose Sophia, an important part of this team, but we’re all excited about how much talent will return.”
Oswego East Alli Wiertel, a talent-laden sophomore, performed marvelously at state, following up her 1-under 71 Friday with a fabulous 7-under 65 Saturday to claim medalist honors by 5 strokes over runners-up Martha Kuwahara (141) of Glenbrook North and Miah Wanserski (141) of Downers Grove South; Wanserski, who made birdie 10 times in two days, also made school history — the first Mustang to collect a state medal in girls golf.
“I grew up playing junior golf tournaments with Alli, my good friend,” said Barrington junior and Texas Christian University-bound Reese Wallace, who placed fifth (144) Saturday and returned home as an all-stater (top 10) for the third year in a row. “She inspires me.
“I’m incredibly happy for her.”
Wallace — whose teammate Teagan Carden, another gifted junior, tied for 15th place (152) — was one of four Mid-Suburban League golfers to crack the top 10, joining Buffalo Grove senior Courtney Beerheide (146, seventh-place tie), Fremd junior Alia Brazeau (146, seventh-place tie) and Conant sophomore Madeline Gutierrez (147, ninth-place tie).
Beerheide was third last fall and fourth in 2023; Brazeau became the first Viking to finish in the top 10 at state since Karen Karmazin took runner-up honors in 1993; and Gutierrez, who went birdie-birdie at the start of her Friday round, matched her state place as a rookie qualifier in 2024.
“Madeline,” said Cougars coach and Barrington graduate Megan Hebert, “is steady. She was mentally tougher this year, and she seemed more relaxed. What she did again at state was awesome, amazing.”
What Benet Academy freshman Lauren Gauss (147) made on the 18th hole Saturday: a birdie putt to clinch all-state status (ninth-place tie). Only one other freshman, Lemont’s Sarah Scott (sixth, 145), earned a top-10 medal.
“She’s such a clean golfer,” said Benet coach Mike Bremner, whose Redwings placed seventh (646), 2 strokes behind sixth-place Hinsdale Central and the Red Devils’ top finisher, junior Naya Shirsat (24th-place tie, 155). “Lauren never gets herself in trouble. She plays spot to spot. She’s humble and a joy to watch.”
St. Charles North sophomores Kayla Beu (149) and Abigail Gizewicz (153) finished 12th and 19th, respectively, and Lake Park senior Isha Patel tied for 29th place (157) in her first state appearance.
“So many quality golfers,” said Barrington coach Tim Martin. “Four MSL kids, ending up in the top 10, how about that? That’s how strong our conference is.
“I know Reese wanted to win state, but she kept asking, ‘How’s Teagan doing?’ because Reese cares so much about her teammates. I’m proud of the way she battled for two days. And Teagan bombed drives and had great distance control on her iron shots. I get to watch both compete for one more season.”