Hein hopes it's her turn to shine

Libertyville's Alex Hein last round of her junior season took around seven hours to play.

It was the second day of the IHSA state tournament and the pace was arduously slow. After a 36 on her first nine holes, Hein came home in 47 for an 83. Her two-day total of 170 put her in a tie for 39th.

"We waited on every shot," she said. "I was so tired after the round."

Hein was glad to get away from golf over the winter, but she couldn't wait for the fall golf season. After playing in IJGA Tournaments over the summer, Hein carded a 78 in her first high school tournament of the year in August.

Since then, she's played her usual steady golf. She finished in a tie for second with an 84 on Saturday at the Antioch Invitational. She followed that up with a 39 on Tuesday to earn medalist honors in a dual with Stevenson.

Hein is paired in dual matches with junior teammate Ashley Falasz. Falasz is most impressed with the way Hein always finds a way to shoot in the high 30s or low 40s.

"Even when she has a bad day it's still good," Falasz said.

Hein said she's learned a great deal over the last four years.

"I know the courses so my experience is a big advantage," she said. "I've also (learned) how to bounce back from a bad hole."

Added coach Jim Seward: "There's no weakness in her game. She's a solid player from tee to green, and she knows how to prepare for big tournaments."

Hein, who has been on the varsity for four years, is Libertyville's only senior.

"It's weird to think that this is my last season," she said.

Hein said she is unsure if she will play golf in college. Unlike many top players, she is not consumed by the sport.

"She's tremendously balanced," Seward said. "She's got a variety of goals and things she wants to achieve."

One thing that is definitely on the list is a return trip to the state tournament.

"It was a lot of fun last year being with the best players in the state and playing pretty well on a difficult course," she said. "I hope to make it back to state."

The more the merrier: When Mel Fox became the Lake Zurich girls golf coach six years, there were six players in the entire program.

This season, that number has tripled to 18 golfers.

"Kids coming in have heard that it's a fun team," Fox said. "They have fun and they keep improving every day. That's the goal."

Junior Alexa Haider said even more girls should consider playing high school golf.

"Golf is a good sport and it's good to play in the business (world)," Haider said. "It's a sport you can play when you're 60 or 70-years old."