Stevenson's Miller grabs state tournament lead

As good as Stephanie Miller's all-around golf game is, the Stevenson sophomore says she hadn't chipped in a shot in quite a while.

That drought ended Friday, and what a day for it to happen.

Miller will take a 2-shot lead into today's final round of the Class AA state meet at Hickory Point Golf Course in Forsyth, outside of Decatur.

Aided by a pair of chip-ins, the unflappable Miller fired a 3-under-par 69, which included 3 birdies in a row during the middle of her round, on Day 1 of the state tournament. Homewood-Flossmoor senior Ashley Armstrong is alone in second place after carding a 1-under 71. A pair of freshmen, Ridgewood's Sabrina Bonanno and Crystal Lake Central's Alexandra Harkins, are tied for third after shooting even par.

“I'm just going to go out and play my game, said Miller, who tied for eighth at state as a freshman. “I'll try to shoot low, see what the other girls shoot, and then we'll compare scores.

Miller's day, which Patriots coach Andy Conneen called “terrific, included 5 birdies and 2 bogeys. She birdied the par-5 fifth, two-putting from the rough, and then drained a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-4 ninth to make the turn at 2-under 34.

She then strung together two more birdies, on Nos. 10 and 11, to get to 4-under.

She chipped in on the 10th, after missing the green. After chipping within 2 feet on No. 11 to set up her birdie putt, she bogeyed the par-4 12th.

She yanked her tee shot to the left on the par-3 13th. But she then holed her second chip of the day, from around 25 feet.

“I hadn't had (a chip-in) in like 1½, 2 years, said Miller, whose putting and chipping helped make up for her hitting only 5 fairways. “I don't know where they came from.

Miller bogeyed the par-4 14th, before concluding her round with four straight pars. She missed a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th by about an inch, she said.

Conneen described the weather as a little breezy, similar to practice-round conditions Thursday.

“She kind of likes the wind, Conneen said. “She likes a good challenge. So it was perfect conditions for her.

“I do like the wind, Miller said. “That, and rain.

Boys golf

In the Class 2A state meet, at Weibring Golf Club in Normal, Vernon Hills senior Kris McGovern and Grayslake North senior Matt Bergstrom shot 88 and 89, respectively, on the par-71 layout.

In Class 3A, at The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course in Bloomington, Carmel sophomore Tommy Schoffield shot a 7-over 79. Stevenson senior Landon Kowalski carded an 80.