Winters, Ellett in the hunt for top-10 finish
St. Edward senior Brad Winters wanted and expected better, but Hampshire freshman Taylor Ellett couldn't have been happier after the first day of the IHSA state golf tournament.
Meanwhile, Bartlett coach Tom Boyle certainly expected more.
The first day of the state tournament kicked off Friday, with Winters playing as an individual in the Class 2A boys tournament at the Weibring Golf Club at Illinois State University in Normal. Winters came away with a 76 and in a 10-way tie for 13th place, 8 shots behind leader Eric Meier of Normal University.
"I know I definitely could have done at least 3 shots better," said Winters, who tied for 40th place at last year's Class A state meet.
"I 3-putted No. 2 from about 10-12 feet and then I dubbed two chips. My goal was to be in the top 15 so tied for 13th without a great round is OK. If I play better (today) I can still definitely jump into that top 10 and with it being my senior year that would be great."
Normal U-High has a massive 17-shot lead over Massac County in the Class 2A team standings.
At the girls state meet in Makanda, Ellett made her freshman presence known by coming away from Friday's round with a consistent round of 84, which has her tied for 12th place with Westmont senior Ashley Wilkinson. Ellett shot matching 42s at the Stone Creek Golf Course.
"I'm very happy," Ellett said. "One of my goals was to finish in the top 20 so if I can do that it'll be great.
"I could have chipped better today; I was 0-for-12 getting up and down. That's my focus for (today), is to chip better.
Ellett's coach and mom, Sue, was more than pleased with Taylor's first round in an IHSA state final.
"It was a great day for her," Sue Ellett said. "She never got into any trouble. She had 12 bogeys and six pars. Had she chipped a little better she could have been looking at top 10 but she kept her composure and did a great job. She performed more like a senior than a freshman."
Ellett stands 12 shots behind leaders Jaclyn Jansen of Effingham St. Anthony and Katie Jean of Champaign St. Thomas More, but just 2 shots out of the top 10.
Bartlett's boys, meanwhile, shot a 322 at the Class 3A meet at the Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington, tying with Homewood-Flossmoor for sixth place in the 10-team meet. Cary-Grove came in eighth with a 326.
"We're looking at the positives right now," said Bartlett coach Tom Boyle. "Right now we stand at sixth and that's sixth in the state of Illinois. On the other hand we didn't play very well today and we know that."
Senior Ryan Oberg led the Hawks with a 78 while the team's other scorers included Trace Pomplun and Nick Quagliano with matching 81s and Anthony Burdi with an 82. The Hawks had a total of 7 double bogeys on the day.
"We need to prevent those double-bogeys (today)," said Boyle. "But we've never given up on anything all year and we're not giving up here. Our goal was to shoot 310 today and had we done that we'd be in fifth place. So we're not out of the ballgame, that's for sure.
"We're just honored to be down here for the first time in school history and I can't say enough about all the support we have down here, from our principal to our athletic director to our parents."
Brian Colbert shot a 78 to lead Cary-Grove while Matt Efflandt had an 82 and Ryan Kwech and Tyler Bulterman each carded 83s.
Prairie Ridge's Tyler Benson shot an 87 Friday and is tied for 89th place.
In the Class 1A boys meet at Prairie Vista, Elgin Academy senior Turner Wadington shot an 85 and is tied for 69th place.
In the Class AA girls tournament in Carbondale, St. Charles North senior Brooke Bettis shot a 75 and is tied for ninth place. The Class AA girls leader is Lake Forest senior Hailey Koschmann, who shot a 66.