Girls golf: Fremd wins first MSL championship since 2000, snaps Barrington’s 9-year streak

Fremd's girls golf team journeyed to the Buffalo Grove Golf Course on Thursday morning looking for its first Mid-Suburban League girls championship in 24 years.

Not only did the Vikings capture that goal by early afternoon, the Vikings also left with six all-conference players (top 20 finishers) which sixth-year head coach Jeremy Malinowski couldn't recall happening in a long time.

Senior Keira Brazeau's 74 led the Vikings' charge followed by her sophomore sister Alia Brazeau (78), Merritt Bell (80), Gloria Lee (83), Kaelee Martin (83) and Kathy Lee (85).

Their top four scores provided the winning margin of 315 to 326 over Barrington, which had won the event for the past nine seasons.

"It's amazing," said Keira Brazeau, whose goal was to go under par which she did on the par-75 layout. "I'm so proud of my team and all the work we've put into this. It's crazy and super fun with my sister on the team, too."

It was also a super finish for the individual crown between Barrington sophomore Reese Wallace (8-under 67) and the defending champion Buffalo Grove junior Courtney Beerheide (68). The close friends were in a tight race all the way to the finish.

Wallace trailed Beerheide by 1 stroke when her 30-foot putt for eagle fell on the 16th hole for a 1-stroke lead that she would not relinquish in the final two holes.

Wallace, who had a bogey-free round with 2 eagles and 4 birdies, gave Barrington its ninth individual champion in the last 10 years.

"It was all kind of all a blur," said Wallace who tied for second in the event last year. "I just went out and hit shots and made putts. Courtney was playing amazing today. She kept me on my toes. I knew I was in a position to chase her so I took that and ran with it."

Beerheide, who played in a different group, also had an eagle on No. 16 along with 6 birdies and a bogey.

"It was a close one with Reese," said Beerheide, who was fourth as a freshman. "But I was more focused on my own game. I knew it was going to be close, I just had to keep making putts and just let it end up wherever it ended up."

Keira Brazeau ended up third behind those two leaders followed by Rolling Meadows sophomore Jennifer Marsh (76 for 4th), Alia Brazeau (tie 5th), Conant's Madeline Gutierrez (78, tie 5th), Bell (80, 7th), Martin (83, tie 8th), Lee (tie 8th), Barrington's Praise Shim (84, 10th) ), Cathy Lee (85, 11th), Prospect's Alex Pignataro (86, tie 12th), Barrington's Teagan Carden (86, tie 12th), Prospect's Cathryn Washer (86, tie 12th), Conant's Gabriella Zyung (87, 15th), Barrington's Olivia Yoon (89, 16th), Wheeling's Sofia Costantini (90, tie 17th), Barrington's Sophia Chaturvedi (90, tie 17th), Barrington's Annie Carden (92, 19th), Buffalo Grove's Abbey Foster (93, tie 20th) and Conant's Maddie Clark (93, tie 20th).

After recording her score of 90, Costantini was hardly done with her day as the junior was headed to theater practice for her lead role in the school's musical 'Rent' and then to play linebacker for her school's flag football team in the evening.

Fremd's six all-conference golfers finished among the top 11, with freshman Kathy Lee in the 11th spot.

"We had a goal this year where we thought we could win the MSL but we had to beat Barrington in our dual meet at Makray and we did (by 4 strokes)," Malinowski said. "That was step one. Then we knew with that result we had a shot at the MSL because we have a really deep team.

"Hats off to Reese (Wallace) today. She went off. So for our No. 1 Keira (Brazeau) she just had to try to close the gap. Winning our dual meet at Barrington and going 11-0 in league play, I can't tell you the last time we did that. This is a true gem of a team Barrington has and we know what they have, For us to come through and now have Vikings on top for the first time in 24 years, I can't be more grateful to coach these kids. If you look at our lineup, it was the middle kids who really came through."

Barrington coach Tim Martin liked how sophomore Teagan Carden came through on Thursday.

"I'm really proud of Teagan," he said. "She really had a great back nine after some tough luck on the front. She really committed herself to play well on the back nine (47-39). She is really a long hitter and talented player. She's one to watch in the postseason. Olivia has been playing great golf and Praise Shim is so good."

And then his champion Wallace produced one of her finest rounds.

She joined Caroline Smith, Mara Janess, Simran Singh, Sophia Sulkar and Reena Sulkar as Fillies to win the title the last 10 seasons.

"I'm thrilled to have her join that list," Martin said. "I know all those past champions are thrilled as well. Reese (team captain) is just a leader, a great teammate, she can do it all on the golf course."

Barrington and Fremd will be back on the same golf course Tuesday for the regional.

"We know moving forward we have to beat Barrington and then we funnel into the same sectional (Bonnie Dundee) as them, too," said Malinowski, whose Vikings have won three straight regionals. We are so familiar with them but to beat them in the sectional we have to play at their home course. We'll get ready for that but for now we will celebrate this and enjoy making history. We are going to savor this moment."

Following Fremd and Barrington were host Buffalo Grove (358), Prospect (360), Conant (366), Rolling Meadows (380), Hersey (388), Schaumburg (409), Hoffman Estates (434), Elk Grove (443) and Palatine (468).