Bee-lieve it: Moreau, Patriots feeling good

There are many ways golfers can relax before their rounds.

Visualization, deep breathing and a good warm-up all come to mind.

Stevenson senior Erin Moreau tried a novel approach Monday in the Guilford Class 2A sectional at Ingersoll Golf Course. A few minutes before she teed off, Moreau was stung by a bee on the palm of her left hand.

Moreau said the pain prevented her from worrying about her score. She shot a personal-low 83 to help Stevenson qualify for the 36-hole state tournament. The Patriots, who are state-bound for the second consecutive year, begin play today at Hickory Ridge Golf Club in Carbondale.

"I think it was a good thing," Moreau said. "It distracted me from my nervousness."

Moreau was the only Patriot who was going to use a pull cart for her round. But the bee sting occurred when she reached to pull the cart.

"She thought it was fate," coach Andrew Conneen said. "She immediately decided to ditch the cart."

Moreau played almost the entire round from the center of the fairway.

"I don't think I had one bad drive," said Moreau, who recorded birdies at the 17th and 18th holes.

Moreau's 83 was three strokes lower than her previous best. Sophomore Jennifer Gorman shot a matching 83.

"The wind conditions forced the girls to chip and putt, and that's where Jennifer excels," Conneen said.

Stevenson was the only team in the field to have every player break 90. The Patriots also counted scores from Angelina Kim (84) and Whitney Paul (86). Stevenson (336) finished second, five strokes behind Barrington.

"I had one parent tell me we play more 80s than VH1," Conneen said.

Music the Patriots hope will continue at the state tournament.

Hein, Horan qualify: Libertyville senior Alex Hein's high school golfing career was slipping away.

Hein opened her round at sectionals by shooting an uncharacteristic 46. Hein, who made it to state as a junior, was in danger of having to make new plans for this weekend.

"I couldn't get a putt to drop on the front nine," she said. "When I made the turn I was so mad. I thought I would have to shoot par (35) to have a pretty good chance."

As it turned out, Hein was glad she did not shoot par. Hein fired a 4-under-par 31 to finish with a 77, which put her in fifth place. If Hein had played the last nine holes in par, she would have qualified right on the number with an 81.

Hein began the back nine with a pair of pars followed by a bogey. She proceeded to birdie holes 13-16 before finishing with a par and another birdie.

"I couldn't really believe it," Hein said. "It was kind of surreal. I just kept making putts."

Lake Forest's Hailey Koschmann, who placed second at last year's state meet, earned medalist honors with a 72. Lakes sophomore Abbie Horan, Deerfield's Jamie Lavin and Conant's Kriss You finished in a three-way tie for second after shooting 76s.

Horan's 76 was a 17-stroke improvement over her score at sectionals as a freshman.

"I worked a lot harder over the summer," she said. "I never stopped playing."

Horan is not content just to enjoy the experience at state.

"I want to finish in the top ten," she said.

State-bound Glatz: Lake Zurich senior Ben Glatz found a way Monday.

Glatz gutted out a 78 at Oak Grove Golf Course to earn his second consecutive trip to state. The 36-hole tournament begins today at the Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington.

"He persevered under very tough conditions," Lake Zurich coach Terry Geoghegan said. "It was like playing in a major tournament where I don't think anybody has their best game."

Glatz grinded out his share of pars and did not make worse than a bogey.

"He did what he needed to do," Geoghegan said. "He really seems to play well when his back is up against the wall."