Winters (16th), Ellett (21st) close out state experience

Neither got the Top 10 finish they wanted, but they didn't come home totally unhappy.

St. Edward senior Brad Winters shot a 76 on Saturday, just as he did Friday, to finish with a two-day total 152 at the Class 2A state boys golf tournament in Bloomington. Winters tied for 16th place.

In the Class A girls meet in Makanda, Hampshire freshman Taylor Ellett suffered one bad hole -- a 9 on the par-4 No. 2 -- and shot a 91. Her two-day total of 175 left her tied for 21st place.

"I definitely expected to do better today after seeing the course," said Winters. "I would have if not for a bad start. I was 4 over after 7 holes and that set a bad tone. I got it back but then I lost it again coming in."

Winters set pin placements for the second round were much tougher than on Friday.

"They had the pins tucked on the edge of the greens," he said. "Even if you did make it on you had a big sloping putt to deal with."

Ellett overcame the 9 on No. 2 and regained her consistency but that hole cost her a chance to finish in the top 20, which was her goal coming into state.

"I made a dumb mistake and that just wrecked it," she said. "I haven't had that happen in a long time.

"I was pretty pleased overall. My putting was pretty solid the whole time."

Sue Ellett, Hampshire's coach and Taylor's mom, remained proud of the accomplishment.

"It's a physical and mental grind and she gained a ton of experience down here," said Sue Ellett. "We're just happy as all get-out.

"She had that one bad hole today but she really did a nice job. In the second round they tuck the pins and it really challenges your course management."

On the team side of the Class 3A boys meet, Cary-Grove shot a 316 Saturday and finished with a 642, good enough for sixth place in the 10-team meet. Bartlett was seventh, shooting a 330 Saturday for a two-day total of 652.

Cary-Grove senior Brian Colbert shot a 77 Saturday to finish at 152. Tyler Bulterman (73-156), Ryan Kwech (83-166) and Scott Brady (83-168) ended up being the Trojans' final scorers.

Senior Nick Quagliano shot a 76 Saturday to finish at 157 and lead Bartlett. The Hawks' other counting scores came from Ryan Oberg (87-165), Trace Pomplun (84-165) and Anthony Burdi (83-165).

Playing as an individual, Larkin senior Michael Sainz shot a 77 Saturday, giving him a 29th place tie with a two-day total of 156.

In Class 1A, Elgin Academy's Turner Wadington shot a 79 Saturday and tied for 49th place with a 164 for the tournament.