Stevenson's Miller state champ

Stephanie Miller keeps track of “all that good stuff, as she says.

That means her number of putts during a round, greens in regulation, fairways hit, career-best scores.

So when Stevenson's super sophomore golfer says she accomplished a first Saturday she hit 18 greens in 18 tries you believe her.

But as she reflected on the biggest thing of all she pulled off Saturday in the Class AA state tournament, she almost seemed in disbelief.

Stevenson coach Andy Conneen broke the news to Miller after she walked off the 18th green on a cloudless but windy day at Hickory Point Golf Course in Forsyth, outside of Decatur.

“I walked up to him, Miller said, “and he said, ‘Congratulations, state champion.'

Good stuff.

Miller fired an even-par 72, after shooting a high school-best 69 Friday, to finish with a total of 3-under 141, good for a 4-shot victory over playing partner Sabrina Bonanno, a freshman from Ridgewood.

On both days, Miller carded the best score.

“It hasn't sunk in yet, she said Saturday night of being a state champ. “It probably will tomorrow. I'll be like, ‘Hey, I just did that. What the heck. I'm just a sophomore. They don't expect that from me until I'm a junior or senior.'

Miller entered the day with a 2-shot lead over Homewood-Flossmoor senior Ashley Armstrong. Bonanno and fellow freshman Lexi Harkins of Crystal Lake Central were 2 strokes back. Miller played with Bonanno, good friend and fellow sophomore Grace Kil of Buffalo Grove and Kaneland senior Hayley Guyton.

While Bonanno shot a 73, Kil a 76 and Guyton a 77, Miller had no idea how the rest of the field was faring. Thus, she didn't know what number she needed to post to win the title.

“I was expecting Ashley (Armstrong) and all the other girls to go low, Miller said. “But I guess not.

Armstrong (146) and Harkins (147) both shot 75 Saturday and finished third and fourth, respectively. Kil was seventh (151), 10 strokes behind Miller, who tied for eighth at state last year.

Kil and Miller had dinner together Friday night.

“We had a lot of fun (playing together Saturday), Miller said.

A lot of friends and family got to experience Miller's fun with her Saturday. Among those who made the trip to support the Kildeer resident were her parents, Alan and Jan, her Aunt Nancy, Stevenson golf teammates Nicole Crosby and Jessie Rios, her swing coach and assistant, and her grandmother, “Popo (Hawaiian for grandma), who flew in from Maryland.

“That was pretty nice, Miller said. “It was a lot of fun to have her here.

Miller wasn't going to disappoint anyone. She couldn't have asked for a better start, as she hit a perfect drive on the par-4 first hole, knocked her approach within 10 feet and sank the birdie putt.

If she needed a confidence boost, she got it.

“I was very happy with myself, Miller said. “I said to myself, ‘As long as you don't bogey (the first hole), you're OK.' I was just thinking about fairways and greens, and making par (on each hole). Par is a good score.

Miller finished with 3 birdies and 3 bogeys. A 3-putt on the par-5 fifth dropped her back to 3 under, but she rebounded by rolling in a 7-foot, downhill birdie put on No. 6.

She bogeyed the eighth thanks to her second 3-putt, then got that stroke back on the 12th when she stuck an 8-iron from 135 yards out within 7 feet and drained the putt.

She ended with a harmless bogey on No. 18.

“Guess what that was? Miller said.

A 3-putt?

“Ding, ding, she said, laughing. “We got a winner.

Yes, we do.