Girls golf: WW South makes it three in a row
Sarah Hauenstein was kicking herself a little bit after finishing her last two holes at Bartlett Hills Golf Course Tuesday afternoon.
"I was 4-under (par) going to (No.) 16 and then I kind of choked on the last hole," the Wheaton Warrenville South junior said.
Despite losing 3 shots on her closing pair of holes, the 70 Hauenstein authored had a wide audience as WW South completed an undefeated DuPage Valley Conference girls golf season with a 314-319 victory over Naperville North in Bartlett.
The Tigers captured their third consecutive league title behind the Hauenstein medalist performance.
"I was hoping to shoot in the 60s, but I'm not disappointed with a 70," Hauenstein said of her personal-low round. "I'm glad I could help the team. My putting was really good. I had 29 (total) putts."
The Tigers' Annalee Dannegger, Priya Desai and Emma Field - like Hauenstein, all members of their third-place Class AA team last fall - were sixth, seventh and 10th with respective scores of 80, 81 and 83.
Naperville Central reversed its regular-season dual-match results with Waubonsie Valley to earn third at 363.
The Warriors (367) were followed by Lake Park, Neuqua Valley, Wheaton North, Metea Valley and Glenbard North.
WW South will seek a seventh state finals appearance since 2007 this fall.
"Coach (Ken) Geppinger, you know, he started it all," WW South coach Art Tang said. "We are trying to continue what (Geppinger) has built. We have been very lucky to have girls who have skill and the desire to work hard."
Naperville North featured runner-up Lauren Nay with a 75; A.J. Barr was fifth for the Huskies with a 77.
Mara Falherty was eighth for Naperville North with an 80.
"My confidence was pretty high coming off of a 69 (a sudden-death playoff win at the Huskies' invite on Saturday)," Nay said. "I think it is a little harder to play the (next time) because your expectations are a little higher. What I shot today was more like my average."
"I'm happy with my final result but a little disappointed (about losing the team title)," Barr said. "We all tried our best, but sometimes you don't get to win."
Emma Lim, one of four starting freshmen for Naperville Central, was ninth overall with an 83.
Two-time Waubonsie Valley state veteran Arushi Singh was third via a scorecard playoff with her 77.
"I was able to make some putts for birdies and pars that really helped my score," the Warriors' junior said. "I thought I did pretty well."
Lake Park junior Nicole Hansen is the most athletically gifted player in the league.
"I think my athleticism helps a lot, (especially) with the power of my swing," Hansen said. "I do hit a long ball. It really helps me get into situations where I (need) less clubs."
Hansen had four straight 1-putt pars on her inward nine to finish fourth with a 77.