Girls golf: Martin, Kirvan give Naperville North a lift
Hannah Martin was philosophical about Naperville North escaping the first postseason leg of a potential fourth consecutive team appearance at the Class 2A girls golf finals.
"I think we're pretty well off," said Martin, who led the Huskies' to a comfortable 17-shot victory over Naperville Central and Benet at the West Aurora regional Thursday afternoon at Blackberry Oaks in Bristol with a third-place 79.
"Everybody didn't play their best game, but I don't think in the regional and sectional it's about playing your best. It's about getting out. We did what we had to do to get out today."
"This is one of our highest 18-hole rounds of the season," Naperville North coach Greta Williams added.
Naperville North junior Emma Kirvan complemented Martin with a fifth-place 81. But the Huskies' 335 total earned another regional title. Naperville Central and Benet were at 352, with the Redhawks taking second place based on the teams' fifth cards.
Kirvan had a pair of closing birdies to solidify her 9-over par 81.
"I knew I had to birdie (a hole) coming in," Kirvan said. "Our whole team didn't do the best they could. We are going to shoot for a low score at the sectional."
Naperville North, Naperville Central and Benet, along with 10 individuals from five of the other six programs in attendance, advanced to the Sandburg sectional Monday at Silver Lake in Orland Park.
Naperville Central senior Emma Lin followed her momentum from winning the DuPage Valley Conference championship with a fourth-place 80.
"Our main goal here was to be one of the top-three teams, and we did that," Lin said. "My putting was really off on the front nine. I was able to get it back on the back."
Redwings junior Reagan Rodenbostel followed 2018 Benet graduate Lauren Beaudreau in winning medalist honors.
The Redwings' junior came home in level-par 36 to accentuate her individual victory.
Rodenbostel finished with a 76 to best Waubonsie Valley four-time sectional qualifier Emily Skowronski by 2 shots.
"I wasn't expecting to come out here and shoot what Lauren would shoot," Rodenbostel said. "I mean, those are hard shoes to fill. I am just happy with how I played. I am not even sure what went well (on the back nine)."
"I was hitting (the ball) very well today; my putting wasn't very good," Skowronski said. "I am hoping to be more mentally prepared for the sectional."
Downers South senior Alina Brindza was sixth with an 83.
"The front nine was a little rough with my putting," Brindza said. "I got my wedges close that allowed me to 1-putt."
Despite playing on a neutral course West Aurora seniors Taylor Martin and Allie Dennis made the individual cut for the host Blackhawks, who were sixth with a 389.
Martin and Dennis eased inside the individual cut line - Batavia senior Lauren Grychowski extended her season with the 10th and final spot with a 97 - with respective rounds of 91 and 92.
"I shot decently well on the front nine and then (had) a few mishaps on the back nine," Taylor said. "I had a few good shots where I could have easily messed up. I had a lot of saves with 15-foot putts."
Dennis' birdie conversion in making the turn on the ninth hole was a personal springboard to the sectional.
"I wasn't all that confident (of advancing)," Dennis said. "Some holes, I had to fight back to get a good score. After that (ninth-hole) birdie, I felt more confident I could perform as well as I am capable of."
Grychowski will have company at her second sectional. Senior classmate Sophia Golson had two steady composite nine-hole rounds to end with a 92.
"I was really nervous going into (the tournament)," Golson said. "I slowly loosened up and started feeling better about my (chances). After the front nine I wanted to shoot even better on the back nine."
Grychowski was in serious jeopardy of her season coming to a premature close.
"Today wasn't my best, but I made it out," Grychowski said. "Things like that happen."