Girls golf: WW South earns state championship
FORSYTH, Ill. - It was perhaps the greatest collection of female golfers in state history assembled near Decatur for the Class AA tournament this weekend.
"We kind of came in as underdogs," Wheaton Warrenville South junior Sarah Hauenstein said of the Tigers' runner-up finish at the Schaumburg sectional on Monday.
But WW South had a Saturday to remember.
Receiving five scores of 78 or better, the Tigers increased their 4-shot overnight lead to turn back Barrington and two-time defending state champion Hinsdale Central.
With its 307 second-round score, WW South made history with its 7-shot victory - 605-612 - over Barrington, which denied Hinsdale Central by a stroke for runner-up.
It was the first state title for any WW South girls athletic program.
Hauenstein, one of five tied for the first-round lead with a 71, fired a 75 to anchor the Tigers.
Hadley Moritz and Priya Desai authored rounds of 77; Annalee Danneger and Emma Field rounded out the Tigers' scoring with matching 78s.
Olivia Rojas is the sixth member of the Tigers' championship lineup.
"I just wanted a good score to put up for the team," said Hauenstein, who finished tied for sixth overall. "I am just so happy we could pull out a win. I think that the difference was that we were mentally tough."
"We knew we had the firepower to do it," Desai added. "Our team has a big will. The regional and sectional was a little rough. I wanted to come back strong."
Coach Art Tang has directed the program to seven state appearances since 2008.
"I think the girls just fueled themselves all year long," Tang said. "They truly deserve this. I told the girls coming into the weekend that they would have to play incredibly for two days."
Hinsdale Central received 74s from Roshannah Gaur and Selina Zeng to earn its fourth trophy in as many years.
Naperville North and Benet were sixth and seventh, respectively.
The Huskies were led by seasoned veterans A.J. Barr, Lauren Nay and Mara Flaherty with rounds of 77 and matching 78s.
"My goal coming into the week was to be top 30, which looks like it is going to happen," Barr said. "I played a lot better than I did last year. I'm really glad I got to come down with the whole team for my last year."
Barr narrowly missed top-10 all-state status.
Benet sophomore Lauren Beaudreau was leading the tournament after playing her first 12 holes in 3-under par.
But Beaudreau ultimately had to share second with Cary-Grove freshman Molly Lyne after duplicating her 1-under total from Friday.
Lincoln-Way Central sophomore Grace Curren fired a 70 to win with a 3-under total of 141.
"I played well today, and Grace played better," regional and sectional champion Beaudreau said. "I can't be upset with how I played today."
Beaudreau and Lyne both double-bogeyed the first par 3 on the back nine.
"I picked the right club and hit it solid," Beaudreau said of her drive that found a water hazard. "The wind picked up at the last minute."
The Redwings' Abby Bitto and Bella Abdullah had their seniors season close with rounds of 75 and 83.
Juniors Arushi Singh (Waubonsie Valley) and Samantha Moody (Glenbard West) shot identical 78s both days.
"The last two days I was kind of sad about how I played on the back nine (my opening nine), but I came back on the front," Moody said.
Nicole Hansen had grander visions as the Lake Park junior returned to state after a one-year hiatus.
"It's a lot different than two years ago," Hansen said after carding an 85. "I expected myself to shoot a lot better."