Kaneland's Guyton just misses state title

An extraordinary saga nearly had an ending to match its uniqueness.

Kaneland junior Hayley Guyton has made headlines all season after conclusively demonstrating she was the best golfer at Kaneland, regardless of gender. Saturday at the Class AA girls state finals at Hickory Ridge in Carbondale, the Knights' star gave defending champion Kris Yoo of Conant all she could handle.

Guyton, who trailed Yoo by two entering the day, fired a career round: a 2-under-par 70 to force a sudden-death playoff with the Wisconsin-bound Yoo after the two completed play at 1-over-par 145 for 36 holes.

"I just wanted to play as well as I could and stay focused," said Guyton. "I didn't really know I could have a chance (teeing off)."

But Guyton had three of her four birdies on par-3s to force the issue.

"We didn't even realize that until a couple of minutes ago that she had three 2s," said Kaneland coach Mark Meyer. "She started playing her best at the right time. She was putting in some knee-knockers."

Guyton, in her third straight state appearance, needed only 23 putts in regulation.

Yoo, however, ended her high school career the same way she did last year, emerging victorious with a par on the first playoff hole.

"I didn't want a playoff hole this year," Yoo said. "Yes, it reminded me of last year."

"I had the championship," Guyton lamented after failing to convert after Yoo drained a 15-footer.

St. Francis' Kayla Stueland made another late charge for all-state status, but the Geneva resident fell short despite a scintillating 74, which included a 2-under start over her first three holes.

"I minimized the shots I gave away and had 4 birdies," said Stueland, who finished top 15 after a seventh-place result last year. "I started off with a 15-footer for par for a sand save and birdied my second hole. I had a couple of doubles on the back. I gave a couple (of shots) away there."

After a disastrous first-day start, St. Charles East concluded its year behind four-year starter Jen Niemiec.

"It wasn't the best of weekends," Niemiec said of the Saints' ninth-place result. "It didn't go as planned, but that's all right. It was still fun."

Niemiec fired a 78 in her final outing; Nicole Rae, Rebecca Norris and Kate Ven Horst had two-day marks between 175 and 181 to augment Niemiec.

Tara Cullerton and Megan Ramp competed as individuals for Batavia, as did St. Charles North senior Marin Beagley for a second year.

"It was nice to go down to the last day the IHSA sanctions," Batavia coach Leon Pedraza said. "It was tremendous for our program."

Homewood-Flossmoor obliterated the field for the team title.