Girls golf: Stephens, Carmel deliver signature regional triumph

Maria Stephens couldn't be upset about failing to break 80 by a single stroke.

Not when the Carmel Catholic freshman won Wednesday's Class 2A Warren regional by a hefty 5 shots. Not when her goal was simply to shoot in the high 80s.

Not when she was nearly disqualified.

"Luckily, they didn't sign their score cards (immediately after their rounds)," Carmel coach Tara Gille said. "Someone told them not to.

"We don't know why, but we're not mad," added Gille, smiling.

Carmel was all smiles at tournament's end, as the Corsairs captured the regional championship with a 364 at sunny Bittersweet Golf Club in Gurnee. Second-place Vernon Hills (368) earned its first sectional berth in team history, and Lake Forest (377) also advanced to Monday's Barrington sectional at Makray Memorial Golf Course.

Warren (382) was fourth on its home course and boasted runner-up Chloe Morrissey, whose 85 included a 39 on the front nine, which the Blue Devils typically play for dual meets.

"Not my best," said Morrissey, a sophomore who joked that she's played Bittersweet 100 times. "I know the front way better than I know the back. ... I made a lot of up-and-downs (on the front). My short game really saved me."

Morrissey would have been the regional medalist had Stephens signed her score card immediately after her round. She had assessed herself a one-stroke penalty on the 14th hole, not knowing that by hitting the golf ball of playing partner Morgan Atwell of Grayslake coop that she should have been penalized two strokes.

"We had the exact same ball," Stephens said. "And they went in the exact same spot, by a hazard."

Stephens hit Atwell's ball, then found her own and finished out the hole. She finished her round thinking she had shot a 79.

After the round, the error was corrected.

"I thought (the penalty) was one (stroke)," Stephens said.

It was one of the few mistakes the 5-foot-2 Stephens made all day. Her 80 included a 39 on the front, which included an eagle on the par-5 ninth. She hit 5-wood off the tee and made the green in two thanks to a 7-iron, which landed 10 feet from the cup.

"It started out pretty good," Stephens said of her round. "I had a clear mind, which helps me a lot. I tried not to think too much."

Stephens has had a better-than-expected freshman season, she said, and has been playing well. Even her coach didn't see Wednesday's performance coming, however.

"It was a big surprise," Gille said.

Carmel also counted Sydney Faerber's 91, Julia Zimmer's 92 and Victoria Giambrone's 101. Had Stephens been DQ'ed for signing an incorrect score card, Carmel would have shot a 394 and not advanced to the sectional.

Vernon Hills was led by Grace Im's 87, which was the day's third-best score. Im shot even-par on the front nine, making a pair of birdies. She jokingly blamed guzzling a Red Bull energy drink in between nines for her back-nine demise. Her 51 included a 10 on one hole.

"Actually, I cried," Im said. "That was my first time I cried on the golf course."

The junior has been playing varsity since her freshman year. Advancing to sectionals made her smile.

"I've never made it to sectionals, so I'm pretty excited," Im said. "But I know that we're going to play more difficult teams, so I need to prepare more - and (laughing) not drink Red Bull. I learned a lesson."

Maja Mirjanic (91), Bayasa Hayanhirvaa (93) and Jacki Park (97) also broke 100 for Vernon Hills. Lake Forest was led by Erin Shalala's 89 and Susa Carlson's 92. The Scouts also received a 96 from Isabella Martino and a 100 from Clare Green.

Defending regional champ Libertyville (388, fifth) didn't make it out but advanced four golfers: Colby Roberts (92), Lauren Kavathas (95), Katie Zurek (99) and Maggie Burnetti (102), who outlasted Antioch's Taylor Comer in a playoff.

Antioch did get through Samantha Brown (97) for the second year in a row. Lakes advanced Camryn Jones (98) and Rachael Speck (99). Besides Morrissey, Warren will send Danielle Guzman (95) and Annika Johnson (99) to Barrington next week.

Guzman and Morrissey both went to sectionals last year. Morrissey knows she should have shot better Wednesday.

"Simple mistakes (on the back nine)," Morrissey said. "I played some shots way too aggressively. I thought I could go for stuff and then I ended up going out (of bounds), when I should have just played it safe."