In Hein sight, perfect finish for Libertyville

If Libertyville senior Alex Hein was playing the par-4, 10th hole at Hickory Ridge in a practice round, this is likely what would have happened.

After hitting a blind approach shot, she would walk toward the green.

First, she would be surprised that her ball was not on the putting surface. After checking just off the green, she would take a half-hearted walk near the hole just to see if there was any chance she had holed out.

But Hein was not playing Hickory Ridge in a practice round. She was there for the state girls golf tournament, so there was a small gallery at the green to watch her 9-iron approach from 110 yards during last Friday's first round.

Hein never saw the ball land, but she most definitely heard the roar. Sure enough, Hein had holed out for an eagle 2. Hein finished with a career-low 74 on her way to a two-round total of (154) and a three-way tie for 20th place.

"I was in disbelief that I started the back nine with an eagle," Hein said.

After her opening 74, Hein struggled to a 42 on her first nine Saturday. But she closed with a 38 and played her last five holes in level par.

"It was really a perfect ending for her high school golf career," coach Jim Seward said.

Shaving strokes: Stevenson's two-round total of 674 was a whopping 70 strokes lower than the previous season.

It's safe to say the Patriots were more at home at the state tournament the second time around. Stevenson fired a 330 in Saturday's second round, which tied the 18-hole school record.

"They saved their best golf for the biggest stage of the season," coach Andrew Conneen said.

Stevenson counted scores Saturday from junior Alex Kessler (81), sophomore Jennifer Gorman (82), junior Angelina Kim (82) and senior Erin Moreau (85).

Gorman closed out play in the second round by sinking a 21-footer for birdie. She led Stevenson with a two-round score of 167.

"Whenever you finish like that you're in a much better mood," Gorman said. "I walked off happy."

Horan figures it out: Lakes sophomore Abbie Horan's first six holes of the state tournament were a nightmare.

The last 30 were more like it.

Horan needed pars on the final three holes of her front nine Friday just to shoot a 52.

"I wasn't focused like I normally am," she said. "I was in hazards and got into a lot of trouble."

Horan played the final 12 holes Friday in even par for an 88. She closed with a 77 Saturday, vaulting from 88th place to a four-way share of 48th.

"I had a lot of confidence for the second day," Horan said. "I was happy with the way I turned things around."

League of her own: Lake Forest senior Hailey Koschmann outdid herself on the way to a state title.

Koschmann fired rounds of 6-under-par 66 and 3-under 69 (135) to lap the field. She finished 9 strokes clear of her closest pursuer, Normal University freshman Lauren English.

Her two-round total established an IHSA record by 8 shots.

"It's not a course that necessarily played to her strength of driving the ball, but she played two very intelligent rounds of golf," Seward said.

"She made some adjustments and adapted to the course in front of her. That's the mark of a real champion."