Niemiec, St. Charles East claim UEC title

Jenny Niemiec had a number in mind when she started play in the Upstate Eight Conference girls golf tournament at St. Andrews Tuesday.

She was too conservative.

Thinking 76 would be a good score on a day that started out cloudy and blustery but turned to afternoon sunshine, Niemiec, who eagled the par-5 14th and had 6 birdies in her round, carded an even-par 71 to win the individual championship and lead the Saints to the team title as well with a sizzling 316, just 1 shot off the school record they shot last weekend at Naperbrook.

"My putts were actually dropping and I had a chip-in for a birdie. I was just really consistent today," said Niemiec, a senior whose 71 was her career best and came on the heels of rounds of 75 and 73 the last two weekends.

"I wanted to shoot well, maybe in the mid-70s," she said. "I thought 76 would be a good score in these conditions. I'm ecstatic right now."

Streamwood senior and Elgin resident Carly Schneider, who attends the gifted academy at Streamwood, fired a 73 to take second place and lead her team, with a 356, to third place in the tournament, past Waubonsie Valley, and into third place in the overall UEC standings. St. Charles North senior Marin Beagley was third individually with a 76 and the North Stars finished second with a 339. SCN also secured second place in the overall conference standings.

But the day belonged to Niemiec and the Saints, who also counted 81s from Nicole Rae and Kate VenHorst, and 83s from Rebecca Norris and Kathryn Belanger.

"It's my senior year and each week is getting better for me right now," said Niemiec, who went 38-33 Tuesday. "It's exciting."

Saints coach Rod Osborne has been waiting for Niemiec to break out.

"Jenny's been capable of doing something like this all year," he said. "She's really put it together these last three outings. Her confidence is growing and she's learning more and more about course management, which is good as we come into the stretch run."

Osborne, whose team will compete at the Class AA Prairie Ridge regional at Prairie Isle next Wednesday, was equally pleased with his team's performance Tuesday.

"It was a very good job again," he said. "Very consistent. We've got great depth on this team."

Schneider, playing for the South Elgin/Bartlett/Streamwood co-op team, was also beaming over her round on Tuesday.

"It was hard preparing and adjusting for the cold weather this morning," said Schneider, whose 73 was her low round of the year. "But I was really confident. I played a practice round here Sunday and being my senior year I just really wanted to have fun with the girls today. It's my last conference meet and I just enjoy playing with these girls so much."

The U-46 co-op team counted 90s from Kaitlyn Boehne and Samantha Coyne and a 103 from Alexis Anderson to finish third.

St. Charles North's Beagley, also a senior, was frustrated she didn't score better, but also realistic that the postseason has just begun.

"I had four 3-putts," said Beagley, who went 40-36. "I couldn't putt today and it just killed my score. But the important thing now is that I'll practice my putting and get ready for regionals."

Waubonsie Valley shot a 369 to finish fourth. Cherise Mangal shot an 85 for the Warriors and secured the ninth and final all-conference position.

Neuqua Valley had a 372, Metea Valley a 390 and Lake Park a 423. The Larkin/Elgin co-op had just three varsity golfers and was led by a 95 from Kristen Chramowicz.