Girls golf: St. Charles North wins state title
FORSYTH - There would no be no more heartache for the four senior mainstays of the St. Charles North girls golf team.
After three consecutive narrow misses for a team trophy at the Class 2A state tournament at Hickory Point, the North Stars withstood a serious challenge from Barrington.
But Saturday afternoon north of Decatur, the St. Charles North senior quintet of Megan Furtney, Sarah Arnold, Emma Hayes and Katelyn David delivered in historic fashion for its school.
Furtney, a Duke recruit, and Arnold, headed for Western Kentucky University, fired level-par 72s.
St. Charles North freshman Catie Nekola added a 79, and Hayes, bound for Illinois-Chicago, rounded out the North Stars' 303 total with an 80.
Barrington was 20 shots better than its first-day team score with the low round of the 36-hole tournament with a 298.
But the North Stars' 13-shot lead over the Broncos after first-round play translated into an 8-shot victory with their 610 two-day total.
The triumph is the first state championship in any sport for either gender at St. Charles North.
"Our names are going to be put down in history as the first team ever to win a state championship at North," said Furtney, the North Stars' four-year starter who earned a third straight all-state campaign with her third-place 1-under 143 total. "I didn't have to pull off any miracles. I was just focusing shot by shot."
Furtney had 8 birdies in the two days of play under exceedingly trying conditions.
The North Stars entered the tournament with three consecutive fourth-place finishes at the state finals.
Like Furtney, Arnold and Hayes have been on all four teams during their decorated careers.
"We are so excited to actually have done it this year," Arnold said. "The past couple of years have been kind of tough. I knew they (the Broncos) were on our tails."
"It was totally worth the wait for all of the seniors," Hayes said. "It is just something you will remember for the rest of your life. I pretended like we had to make a comeback like we had the second day the last few years."
But the North Stars held a double-digit lead entering the second round.
St. Charles North did not require the second-day score of the Stetson-bound David.
"This has been our goal for so long," David said. "The fact that we got fourth three years in a row makes it even better. I didn't play my best, but I know what matters is the team - that's what I care about."
With her level-par effort on Saturday, Arnold finished solo sixth at 149.
Sophomore Isabella Spinazze was the sixth member of the North Stars' championship contingent.
Notre Dame-bound Benet senior Lauren Beaudreau had a bunker save for par on the final hole to win the individual championship with a 4-under 140 score.
Geneva resident Katherine Lemke powered St. Francis' seventh-place finish at the Class 1A tournament in Decatur with her 14th-place tie.