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Another strong finish for St. Charles North

A few years ago, Katie Lillie and Gianna Furrie were a couple of freshmen from Haines Middle School who played on the St. Charles North girls golf team.

Last year, they played key roles in the North Stars' 11th-place finish in the Class AA state finals.

Now juniors, Lillie and Furrie are back again this fall, trying to get their team back downstate.

And guess who are there to help them?

Another pair of current freshmen hailing from Haines.

Megan Furtney shot a 75 and Emma Hayes chipped in a 76, finishing third and fourth, respectively, to lead the North Stars to a 315 score at the Prospect Invite on Saturday held at the Bridges of Poplar Creek Country Club in Hoffman Estates.

The only school to shoot lower in the seven-team event was state power New Trier. The Trevians, who carded a 313, were led by individual medalist Louise McCulloch (73), a senior, and freshman Penelope Tir (74) on the par-70 layout.

While Furtney and Hayes are new on the high school scene, they are hardly new to the links, having played in many junior golf tournaments.

"High school golf is so fun," said Furtney, who shot a personal best 67 at a Golfweek junior tournament in Indiana before she entered eighth grade. "I love the whole team aspect. I followed them a little bit when they went to state last year. It was always my goal to get on the varsity team as a freshman."

Furtney, whose mother Stacy (Carver) played women's basketball for the University of Minnesota, finished the back nine with a 34, including birdies on holes No. 15 and 17.

Hayes produced on a 36 on the back nine which helped her record her best high school round of 76.

"They (Furtney and Hayes) both play a lot of competitive golf outside of high school," said North Stars coach Irish Whalen, who is in her second year directing the program. "We knew they had been preparing for this but we were not sure what would happen. We are very pleased with what is happening and we are so excited to see what happens in the future.

"I can't speak any higher of the effort all our girls put in this past summer."

Lillie shot an 81 and Furie an 83 to round out the North Stars' second 18-hole meet of the season. SCN shot a 299 to to easily win Monday's Early Bird Invite at Fox Run Golf Club in Elk Grove.

"It was really a good day for our freshman," said Lillie who shot a 70 to win the Early Bird 3 strokes over Furrie.

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