Scouting girls golf / conference meets

Mid-Suburban League

Who (2010 dual meet records): Prospect (11-0), Barrington (10-1), Buffalo Grove (8-3), Fremd (8-3), Hersey (7-4), Palatine (5-6), Rolling Meadows (5-6), Schaumburg (2-9), Elk Grove (1-10), Hoffman Estates (1-10).

When: Today at 8:30 a.m.

Where: Chevy Chase Golf Course, Wheeling

Team favorite: Prospect went undefeated in league play and has won the last two conference meets under coach Jim Hamann.

Last year's results: Prospect beat Barrington 324-338 for the team title and Fremd took third. Conant's Kris Yoo shot 73 to beat Prospect's Karly Grouwinkel by 2 shots for medalist honors and Buffalo Grove's Grace Kil was third with a 76.

Top 2010 individual contenders: Prospect freshman Noreen Caporusso, Buffalo Grove senior KC Dunne, Prospect junior Christine Garmoe, Barrington senior Kelly Muskat, Elk Grove senior Mia Kaim, Buffalo Grove sophomore Grace Kil, Prospect senior Rachel Lawless, Prospect senior Emily Mick, Hersey senior Megan Rogowski, Prospect junior Allison Walsh, Prospect freshman Kiley Walsh, Fremd junior Madison Zyer.

Top two teams: Prospect went 11-0 in MSL play while Barrington was 10-1, its only loss to Prospect (171-180 at the Mount Prospect Golf Course). The Knights' six players who are expected to compete today are junior Christine Garmoe, senior Rachel Lawless, senior Emily Mick, junior Allison Walsh, freshman Noreen Caporusso and freshman Kiley Walsh.

Barrington will field a lineup of senior Kelly Muskat (a medalist in nearly every conference meet she played), senior Casey Hahn, senior Laura Palarz, junior Sammy Carman, junior Erin Moston and sophomore Lauren Bolgarelli.

"The conference meet starts the tournament season," said Barrington Hall of Fame coach Jodi Schoeck, whose Fillies won four straight MSL crowns before Prospect's last two titles. "The girls are ready to go and anxious to get off the first tee." Schoeck has led the Fillies to 11 MSL titles.

A Knights three-peat? That is the goal for coach Jim Hamann's talent-filled squad, which had nine girls make solid contributions this fall. The Knights have gone undefeated in league play the last three years. "We've had good performance in the conference meet the last two years in tough weather," Hamann said. "We've been in the 320s both times and I'm very proud of their performance. We've talked to the girls about this being the time of year that the good teams step up." Prospect recently won the 20-team Rockford Invite with a score of 330 on the same course (Ingersoll Golf Course) which will host a sectional in which the Knights could qualify. The Knights have lost to only three teams this season - Homewood-Flossmoor (by 13 strokes on the Vikings' home course), Hinsdale Central and New Trier. I'm very proud of my program," Hamann said. "We are going to try and bring back the trophy (conference championship) to our school again."

Course comments: "I think the course (Chevy Chase) will be challenging," said Fremd coach Christine Vlaming. "But there will be some real low scores with all the talent in the conference." Hamann believes the par 5s will play long," "I think the wedges will be key," he noted. Hersey coach Bob Murphy said his players feel Chevy Chase is challenging but fair. "I think it's a great course for our conference meet," Murphy said. "And it's in awesome condition. The hardest thing for the girls is getting used to the fairways. There are a lot of balls you hit below your feet or above them. You've got to get used to the rolling fairways."

Bryan't final MSL meet: This marks the final MSL meet Fred Bryant will coach for the Hoffman Estates girls varsity team. He has run the program for 19 years and has been a member of the school's business department for 35 years. The former head boys basketball coach is retiring after the school year.

East Suburban Catholic

When: Thursday, 9 a.m.

Where: Village Greens Golf Course, Woodridge

Host: Benet Academy

Outlook: St. Viator (8-1) finished second to Marian Catholic (9-0) in the regular season, losing by 3 strokes (176-173) to the Spartans in an ESCC quad meet at Naperville Country Club that included Benet and Nazareth. Lions coach Mick Drewes' six players will be freshman Dana Gattone, senior Captain Jill Haworth, junior Molly O'Keeffe, junior Molly McMahon and sophomore Haley Gainer and sophomore Amy Stringfellow, sister of Class 3A 2009 state boys champ Dan, who is playing for Auburn. Haworth's score of even-par 35 in a quad hosted by Marist was the Lions' best in a league meet this season. "Dana has been our golfer by far," Drewes said. "She has been our most solid performer," Gattone was a medalist (ninth place with an 82) at the recent Rockford Invite when the Lions placed fifth with a 355. The Lions are two-time defending ESCC champions and if they post the lowest score Thursday, they would win a third straight crown via the point system used. "Marian has two really good players but we feel good," Drewes said. "We've got a good group of girls. They've done everything I've asked. They'll be ready and give it their best shot."

Central Suburban League

When: Thursday, 4 p.m.

Where: Sunset Valley Golf Course, Highland Park

Outlook: New Trier, which was second in the 2009 Class AA state tourney and won the Prospect Invite this season, is the favorite. Maine West is the only area representative. Coach John Hauenstein's Warriors include seniors Krystina Cook and Kelly Farnan.