Girls golf: St. Francis' Lemke claims top honors at sectional
Bridges of Poplar Creek proved to be a tough test for the players competing at Monday's Class 2A Hoffman Estates girls golf sectional.
That made the round St. Francis' Katherine Lemke shot all the more impressive.
The junior fired a 76 to claim medalist honors and move on to this weekend's state tournament at Hickory Point Golf Club in Decatur.
"I always expected a determined round from Katherine," said St. Francis coach Gay Crain. "She always gives it everything she has. We never really talk about numbers but I know it's always going to be competitive. She gave us her best today."
Lemke finished 12th individually at last year's state meet, as a sophomore in Class 1a.
The Spartans were moved up to 2A this season, and Lemke welcomed the change.
"I know a lot of the girls (in 2A) from summer golf," said the junior, "so it's nice to come out and compete against my friends, and there's a lot more depth (in this class)."
Lemke said she started to get on a roll Monday on the third hole.
" We spent a long time on the second hole," said Lemke, " and I just wanted to get golfing and get in a groove. I nailed a drive down the middle (on the par-4 third hole) and then got on the green and sank a 9-footer for birdie, so I was like 'OK, here we go.' "
"I just had a really positive attitude today," she added. "I wasn't thrilled about a lot of my shots, but was just very positive and told myself to find a way to get a good score, and I did."
Schaumburg senior Lauren Christians claimed the final individual spot to state, winning a playoff to qualify after shooting 92.
Christians made a pressure-packed uphill 3-foot putt on the second playoff hole to advance.
"She fell to her knees in disbelief (after sinking the putt) with tears in her eyes," said Saxons coach Michelle Hinojosa. "Lauren said that she stepped up to the putt and had Happy Gilmore in her head, and I guess that worked.
"She's worked so hard through her career and she really deserves this honor as a state qualifier. She's super excited."
New Trier won the tourney with a 327 and Loyola and Glenbrook South are also advancing as teams.
Abby O'Connell from Wheaton North will make the trip to Decatur as an individual, as she fired an 89.
Kendall Farm of West Chicago and Grace Ellison of Wheaton Warrenville South will also move on. Each player carded a 91.
Ellison just missed the cut to advance last season.
"I knew it was going to be a tough day," said Ellison, a senior, "so I just came out to do my best. I knew it would be close, and it was, but I was confident."
Other stellar scores of note at Poplar Creek came from Haley Blattner of York (92), Madison Gordon of Glenbard North (93), York's Audrey Matias (93), and Elizabeth Grivetti of St. Francis and Kalena Sultana of Maine South, each of whom carded a 94.
Sultana excelled despite playing Poplar Creek for the first time.
"I played pretty well," said Sultana, a junior, "but it's such a difficult course. I was shocked that there was so much water here - more than I expected. I changed my grip just yesterday. It was definitely a risky move but I stuck with the new grip today and it paid off."