Accoring to plan for regional champ Libertyville

After Libertyville was announced as champion of the Class AA Warren girls golf regional, the Wildcats' three seniors lagged like a perfectly stroked putt.

A couple of seconds later, the trio of Maggie Piazzi, Katherine Stegman and Natalie Quist hustled to the table inside Bittersweet Golf Club's clubhouse and giddily accepted the championship plaque.

"Sorry," Stegman said aloud with a sheepish grin. "We're slow."

Actually, the Wildcats are right on pace.

A week after capturing the North Suburban Conference championship, Libertyville edged Carmel on Bittersweet's tight track Wednesday for its second regional title in as many years. Medalist Simone Mikaelian led the Wildcats (348), who bested Carmel (351) by three shots. Fellow Libertyville junior Megan Sturonas was second with an 81.

"It's one of the team goals that they had set this year," Wildcats coach Greg Pedersen said of his girls. "We wanted to win the conference, we wanted to win the regional, and then let everything ride at sectionals.

"Two down, one to go."

Libertyville, Carmel and Warren (third place, 372) will compete as teams again Monday, when Glenbrook North hosts the sectional at Sportsman's in Northbrook.

"It's a nice golf course," Pedersen said. "It's a little bit less trouble, a little more wide open, so kids can let it ride a little bit more. (Bittersweet) is really treacherous and stressful. So we're happy to get out of here with a win. It's a good accomplishment for these girls."

Libertyville also counted Stegman's 91 and Piazzi's 96. Quist and Madeleine Hollinger also teed it up for the regional champs.

For Carmel, it was heartbreak all over again, as the Corsairs finished second for the third year in a row. Kayla Ryan's 83 was the Corsairs' best score and earned her a tie for third place with fellow senior Izzy Cordova of Warren.

"There were definitely holes I fell apart on, but I came back usually," Ryan said. "I could go back and probably (cut) 10 strokes. I played OK. It wasn't a great day. It wasn't an awful day."

Erin Kehoe (88) and Danielle Savovich (89) also broke 90 for Carmel, while Eva Savovich and Charlotte Roberts both shot a 91. Alexa Amato had a 92 for the Corsairs. For four-year varsity players Ryan and Amato, this is their last chance to get downstate.

"I think if we perform anywhere close to (the school-record 320 at the East Suburban Catholic Conference meet), we can go to state," Ryan, thinking positive, said of her team. "I'm really hoping that we bring it on Monday."

Mikaelian headed to the 18th tee needing just a bogey to break 80. Instead, she doubled the hole. It didn't hurt the Wildcats, however.

"It wasn't bad," Mikaelian said of her round. "There were just a few mistakes that can be fixed. Overall, I liked the way I played. My irons were solid. That's usually not the case."

Playing her final round on her home course, Cordova carded a 40 on the front nine, before settling for a 43 on the back. It was her best 18-hole score of the season. She became the first Warren golfer to medal (top five) in the regional. By her count, she made four putts in the 15-foot range.

Her advice to those who play Bittersweet?

"I would definitely say look at how the green slopes, because even if you (hit) the green, (the ball) can roll off," Cordova said. "The pin placements are usually very hard, and the greens are all slanted."

Warren also counted the rounds of junior Kelsey Campbell (88) and sophomores Ellie Bousson (98) and Annika Johnson (103). Nicole Urquhart and freshman Danielle Guzman also competed for the Blue Devils.

Sophomores KiLynn Gold of Grant and Jennifer Dimitriou of Mundelein tied for fifth place with matching 86s. Both earned individual berths to the sectional.

Gold played varsity golf last year for Millennium High School in Goodyear, Ariz., after she and her family moved there from Eureka in central Illinois. Her brother Trevor, a four-time all-state golfer in Illinois, plays for the University of Illinois.

"My shots were good," Gold said after advancing along with teammates Kylie Diana (93), Brianna Burgeson (96), who earned her second sectional berth in as many years, and Kylie Lantz (100). "My putting was off. It cost me a lot of strokes."

While new to IHSA golf, Gold is familiar with the state-tournament format since her brother played for Eureka.

"I'm excited but I'm really nervous (about the sectional)," Gold said. "Just because I've never (experienced) that pressure."

Grayslake co-op's Kara Ahlemeyer (97) will tee it up in the sectional for the third year in a row. Also advancing were Antioch's Hannah Cook (92), and Mundelein's Megan Wiese (96), Isabella Loverde (98) and Grace Gotlund (99).

Grant (375) edged Mundelein (379) for fourth place.