Regional title goes to Barrington

Barrington was doing some intense scoreboard watching Wednesday afternoon at Prairie Isle Golf Club in Crystal Lake.

A five-year streak of girls golf regional titles precariously hung in the balance for the Fillies as scores were posted in the Class AA tournament hosted by Prairie Ridge. They produced a 370 that was matched by second-year upstart program South Elgin.

But the fifth score of 109 by sophomore Catie Curran gave the Fillies the tiebreaker edge for their sixth straight crown and 14th in program history.

"We were holding our breath the last half-hour to see what the last couple of scores would be," Barrington coach Jodi Schoeck said of the first time she won a regional title in a tiebreaker. "You have to play hard and you can't quit because you could use those scores even if you had a rough day."

Conditions at the start were hardly ideal with rain and wind on the par-73, 5,438-yard course. Minnesota-bound Tori Stock of Marian Central Catholic took medalist honors with 76.

Carly Schneider of South Elgin (80) and Kris Yoo of Conant (81) finished second and third. Barrington was led with an 85 from junior Taylor Quinn, the only returnee from last year's eighth-place state team.

"I was a little worried but I knew we'd be able to make it to sectionals (Monday at Bonnie Brook in Waukegan)," Quinn said. "It was great because our No. 5 girl (Curran) and No. 6 (junior Jennifer Chung) were very sad about their rounds because they were high, but they won it for us.

"It wasn't a good day for me - but in the end I'm happy."

Sophomore Kelly Muskat (91), junior MaryMeg Gerbich (94) and junior Julie D'Amico (100) led a Fillies team that had no seniors playing Wednesday.

"At the start of the year many people counted us out," Schoeck said. "These kids have been exceeding expectations since day one.

"They've worked so hard together and they wanted to continue the tradition. I give them all the credit in the world for the heart and guts they showed today."

And it showed the regional title streak mattered to the Fillies.

"I thought it would be a good year and we'd be able to get to the sectional," Quinn said. "The way the girls are playing is so much better than me and coach thought it would be."

Yoo, a junior who won the regional title at Hoffman last year and was 11th at state, was already working toward next week on the practice green after her round.

"My putting was the problem today," Yoo said. "I've been working a lot on putting but today was the day it faltered.

"I learned today I have to work harder before Monday comes around."

Hoffman Estates senior Alaine Coleman shot 96 to earn one of the top eight individual sectional berths. Coleman also qualified for the sectional last year.