Girls golf: Waubonsie's Singh, Naperville North dominant at West Aurora

Like more than one freshman girl, Arushi Singh envied her senior teammate three years ago.

"I always looked up to Bing (Singhsumalee)," Singh said Wednesday afternoon after capturing the Class 2A West Aurora girls golf regional at Orchard Valley with a 1-under 71. "She was such a great role model."

The Indiana-bound Singh has a unique possibility to accompany her potential University of Illinois rival Singhsumalee as the only female golfer in Waubonsie Valley history to be a four-time state qualifier.

"To be right next to her would be amazing," Singh said.

The Warriors are hosting the sectional on Tuesday at Springbrook in Naperville.

The other 10 qualifying teams and 40 individuals will be hard-pressed to compete against twin tenants Naperville North and Waubonsie Valley.

"We know that course like the back of our hands," said Naperville North senior Lauren Nay, one shot behind Singh with a runner-up 72 in Aurora. "Hopefully for Waubonsie (it will be) the same thing."

Unlike the individual championship between playing companions Singh and Nay, there was absolutely zero team drama on Wednesday.

Naperville North played a different course than their competitors in fashioning a 306 to deny the Warriors by 32 shots.

Naperville Central (344) upended Benet by two shots for the third qualifying slot to Springbrook on Tuesday.

"That's the best regional score we have ever had in the history of our program," Naperville North coach Greta Williams said.

Nay, sophomore Hannah Martin, senior Mara Flaherty and sophomore sister Emily had respective rounds of 76, 77 and 81 to accentuate the Huskies' historic accomplishment.

"We were definitely feeding off each other, just like last week (at the DuPage Valley Conference tournament)," Lauren Nay said of playing with Singh.

The two seniors fired matching second-place 1-under 71s last week at the league tournament.

"Whenever we play together, we seem to play well," Lauren Nay said.

Martin more than ably complemented Lauren Nay with her 3-over score, tied for third, for the Huskies.

"I have played this course three times," Martin said. "I knew not where to hit it. I took it one shot at a time and tried to play the best I could."

Naperville Central will perform at its conference rivals' home course on Tuesday behind sophomores Emma Lim and Neha Vinesh, who carded rounds of 77 and 82.

Veteran Redhawks coach Jane Thompson has witnessed the evolution of the sport firsthand during her career.

"It used to be you only needed two players," Thompson said. "Now you need five scores to be an elite team."

Benet junior Caroline Wing returns to the sectional after a 75.

"It was so fun going down (to the state tournament) last year," Wing said. "I would love to go back."

Batavia had designs on advancing to the Waubonsie Valley sectional after a program-record 322 last week at the Upstate Eight Conference Tournament.

But the Bulldogs had to settle for fifth place with a 354.

Host West Aurora was sixth at 367.

Batavia, however, has Madi McCoy at its disposal to make another state run.

Seeking to duplicate her accomplishment from two years ago, McCoy easily cleared the first of two state preliminary hurdles with a fifth-place 76.

"I was playing well compared to (playing partners Singh and Lauren Nay)," McCoy said. "Their short game was amazing. The back nine I brought it back it a lot. I was even. I got some ups and downs."

Batavia senior Kaitlyn Stangl extended her career by advancing out of a five-player playoff for four available slots with a par on the only hole contested.

"There was a lot of tension among the players," Stangl said after a regulation 91. "My hands were actually shaking. It was pretty nerve-wracking."

Sienna Rucka is the last of the three local players in the Waubonsie Valley field as the West Aurora senior fired a career-best 88 on her home course.

"It helped a lot," Rucka said of playing at home.

Rucka shaved six shots off her previous best at the two-time Illinois Men's Open site.

"I was a little disheveled from the rain delay," Rucka said. "I just kept my head high. I played really well today."

Rosary had its season come a close with its 425 score.