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Girls golf: Naperville Central's Lim earns all-state finish

Emma Lim had a final parting gift for Naperville Central girls golf coach Jane Thompson.

"This is like Disney magic," Thompson said after Lim became her first all-state athlete in her final season as Redhawks coach. "I couldn't have had a better run."

Lim followed a Friday first-round 2-over-par 74 at Hickory Point in Forsyth with a 76 on the concluding day of the season Saturday to finish in a tie for 10th place in Class 2A at 150.

Lim is the first all-state golfer since 1986 for the Redhawks.

"I didn't have any idea where I stood in the tournament, other than the group I was playing with," Lim said. "The past couple of days, my game really came together. I was able to sink some putts."

The other Naperville Central state qualifier, senior Neha Vinesh, tied for 24th with respective rounds of 81 and 76.

"Both girls walked off the course with honor with how they played," Thompson said.

The Naperville North girls were making a fourth consecutive state appearance. The Huskies were in search of a team trophy for the first time in 27 years. But Naperville North fell to fifth place after a second-day 318.

Emma Kirvan, Emma Lin, Hannah Martin and Emily Nay had commendable rounds of 78, 79, 79 and 82 for the Huskies.

"Going into today, I was talking to the girls about playing like I knew we could play," Naperville North coach Greta Williams said. "They had a lot of fight in them."

Williams was saddened about competing against Thompson for the final time.

"She is the epitome of girls golf," Williams said. "It's going to be hard not seeing her next year at matches and tournaments. I was so excited for Emma (Lin) to finish in the top 10."

St. Francis' Katherine Lemke, the Glenbard East regional and Hoffman Estates sectional champion, was a shot behind Lin in missing an all-state medal with her 12th-place tie at 151 after rounds of 75 and 76.

"I was one stroke away from a top-10 finish, which was my goal for the season," Lemke said. "I hit a rough patch in the middle of the back nine."

Hinsdale Central freshman Sarah Thornton was in the top 20 with a composite 155 two-day score.

West Chicago junior Kendall Farm and Neuqua Valley sophomore Sarah Zheng were tied for 35th with their aggregate 160 totals.

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