Girls golf: MSL's top five ready to swing into action downstate

The final five.

That's how many competitors from the Mid-Suburban League will compete in the Class AA IHSA girls golf state meet this Friday and Saturday in Decatur.

Leading the pack in representation is Buffalo Grove with senior Emily Carnes and junior Haeri Lee while Barrington (Reena Sulkar), Conant (Megan Nagorzanski) and Fremd (Jaehee Hur) have one apiece.

Sulkar, Nagorzanski and Hur have experience on their side having played the Hickory Point Golf Club a year ago in the 2014 state finals.

Sulkar is the two-time defending MSL champion and won this year's Barrington regional with a score of 65 before taking third at the Glenbrook North sectional with a 75.

"Reena has the support of the coaches, team, school and community," said Barrington coach Jodi Schoeck. "Everyone is rooting for her and sending their best wishes."

Sulkar's steady play always makes her a threat no matter the event.

"Reena is the type of player every coach hopes to work with." Schoeck said. "She is driven and focused. She sets her goals and does what she needs to do to make the dream happen."

Last year, Sulkar scored a 77 and 78 to finish in a three-way tie for eighth (155) at Hickory Point. Neuqua Valley's Jessica Yuen won the title with a 142.

"Reena's experience in big tournaments gives her game a foundation," Schoeck said. "She will draw on that experience during the state tournament. Reena has a game plan for the state golf course. She has played it many times in three years. She knows the course and understands where she can take risks and where she needs to be more conservative."

Sulkar's best nine holes is a 34 and her best 18 holes is the 65 she shot in the regional at Bonnie Dundee in Carpentersville.

"Reena will give it all she has this weekend," Schoeck added. "She has prepared her game and knows she is ready."

Hur tied for 38th last year at state with a two-day score of 165.

She recently fired her career-low of 74 at the Fremd regional at Palatine Hills and then shot a 75 at Sportsman's Country Club in the Glenbrook North sectional.

"Jaehee is in command of her game right now," said Fremd coach Christine Vlaming. "She knows what it takes to score well, and has become one of the most consistent golfers we have ever had come through the program. She is poised under pressure, and always seems to get the ball to the pin from inside 100 yards."

Nagorzanski tied for 57th last year shooting a two-day score of 170.

"We are very excited about Megan Nagorzanski making it to state for the second year in a row," said Conant coach Megan Hebert.

Nagorzanski took second with an 81 at the Oak Park River Forest sectional on Monday.

"She played very steady," Hebert said. "It was a tough day to play in the wind, and Cog Hill is a new course for us."

Nagorzanski is a four-time sectional qualifier.

"That experience helped her stay composed on Monday," Hebert said. "We are excited to see how well she can do at state this year. We learned a great deal from her experience at state last year and are hopeful that she will be able to do even better this year."

Nagorzanski's best score this season was a 76 at Rockford's Ingersoll Golf Course, the same score shot at that course in 2014.

Her best round is a 76, and her best nine holes is 34 last year against West Aurora at Fox Run Golf Club in Elk Grove.

"Megan is hitting the ball extremely well right now," Hebert added. "And Hickory Point sets up well for her game."

Buffalo Grove coach Matt Myers will set up shop in Decatur with a pair of aces in Lee and Carnes.

The sophomore, who was seventh in the MSL Meet at Fox Run, had season lows of 35 (nine holes) and 74 (35-39) while averaging 38.5 for nine holes. Lee was sixth at both the Barrington regional and the Glenbrook North sectional.

Lee was a six-time medalist for the Bison this fall.

"Haeri is an extremely talented golfer who still hasn't reached her full potential," Myers said. "That is incredible, considering her scores. Her strength is her consistency and composure. She hits a ton of fairways and greens in regulation, and when her putter gets going, she can score extremely low. She could do very well at the state course if she continues to hit those greens in regulation."

In the spring, Carnes is one of the area's top catchers in softball.

In the fall, she usually has golfers trying to catch up her low scores.

She was a four-time medalist for BG this fall, averaging 39.9 for nine holes.

Carnes' season bests were 38 for nine holes and 72 (32-40) for 18.

"Emily's hard work in the offseason has paid dividends with her play this year," Myers said. "She is one of the longer players in the area and her game will also translate well downstate."

Carnes, who was second in the MSL Meet, finished sixth in Decatur last fall.

"She has worked tirelessly on different shots to adjust to the winds that you can see in Decatur and to maintain consistency in all elements of her game," Myers said. "I think Hickory Point is well suited to her and she will thoroughly enjoy the downstate experience."