Girls golfers adjusting to new protocols
The one obvious COVID-19-related adjustment high school girls golfers in the state of Illinois are having to make this fall is wearing a mask on the course. Per IHSA Return to Play guidelines, all players should be masked while walking the course and not actively in play.
As expected, the mask rule has taken some getting used to.
"It's been a little weird," St. Francis senior and three-time state qualifier Katherine Lemke said. "We make it work. You have to remember to keep your mask on when you stand at the range. 'Wait a minute. I have to keep my mask on.' The other thing is I don't know what to do with it when I take it off. Where does it go? It's another thing to think about."
Barrington senior Sophia Denison concurred "it's definitely an adjustment" when it comes to the mask rule. "The mast thing is pretty much the only thing that's really significantly different," she said. "You have to wear it all the time except when hitting, but honestly we're grateful that we get to play and that we get to have a season, especially this being my senior year. I speak for a lot of athletes who look forward to their senior year and get to lead a team. I'm a team captain this year and am looking forward to my senior year of golf. I've been looking forward to it since I have been on the team. I'm happy to get to play in any capacity."
Stevenson update
The defending state champions recorded wins over Lake Zurich (158-190 at Village Green in Mundelein), Vernon Hills (158-195 at Crane's Landing at the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort) and Highland Park (164-174 at Cranes). The big story for the Patriots is freshman Chelsea She earning medalist honors in all three events (37, 39 and a 37 to tie with teammate Allie Santos against Highland Park).
St. Francis update
Lemke was the medalist in both of St. Francis' matches last week, shooting 40 and 38 respectively. She recorded an eagle against Wheaton North at Arrowhead and helped the Spartans shoot 175 in a tri-meet win against St. Charles East and Naperville Central at Cantigny.
"It was not my best beginning of the season, but I will be fine," said Lemke, who was active on the summer tournament circuit, going to events in Missouri and South Dakota among other stops. "My short game has been good over the summer and my iron hitting and approach shots were doing well, but seemed to fade. I'm not worried. I think they will come back."
St. Francis coach Gay Crain lauded freshman Emmy Hollarbush's progress. She shot a personal-best 41 on the Woodside course at Cantigny.
Barrington update
The Fillies start match play this week, something Denison, a two-time state qualifier and part of last year's Class 2A state runner-up, was highly looking forward to after workouts at Makray Golf Club in Barrington last week.
Denison, junior Mara Janess (state runner-up individually last year) and junior Sophia Sulkar (tied for fifth individually) are back from the roster that played in the state final.
"We lost a lot of seniors from last year, but we have a strong team coming up again," Denison said. "Our freshmen and sophomores have been working really hard this summer and it definitely shows. We are very excited. It's been fun to get to know the new players the past few days."
Denison, also the editor-in-chief of the school yearbook, won't play golf in college. She's focused on studying product industrial design and has her college choices zeroed in on Northwestern, Minnesota and Georgia Tech. "With the yearbook, you are creating a product," she explained. "It's more the business aspect of it and the design and putting together a product. For instance, Northwestern and Minnesota both have these engineering and science-based programs that focus on product design and development and combine different subjects where you take design and drawing courses and create different products for customers, which I think is very holistic."
Vernon Hills update
The Cougars were third at the recent Libertyville invitational at Shepherd's Crook in Zion late last week. Sophomore Lexi Shulman, who tied for fifth in the state last year as a freshman, shot even-par 71 to win the individual title. She had three birdies on the day. Vernon Hills' 353 team score was its best since 2017, coach Stephen Downey noted. Freshman Anna Lee was ninth with an 84, while senior Myra Singh shot a personal-best 90, which included a personal-best 9-hole tally of 43.
Other notables
Neuqua Valley won the McGonagle Naperville City Championship at Naperville Country Club. The invite features the six Naperville-area schools (North, Central, Neuqua, Waubonsie, Metea and Benet). Neuqua shot 330, its best-ever score on the course by more than 30 strokes, coach John Keller noted. Neuqua's Sarah Zheng was medalist with a 75 and Lanette Choi was second with an 80. ... Senior Emma Kirvan's 81 helped Naperville North finish second there. ... In Geneva's 159-172 recent win over Rosary at Valley Green in North Aurora, Vikings' No. 1 Reese Clark led the way with a 34. ... Conant tied for second at the Earlybird invitational with sophomore Sadie Zorilla taking third with an 86 and freshman Ariel Morrison carding an 89 to take sixth. ... Seniors Erica Meissner, Maris Henkel and junior Ally Heniff are top players for Wheaton Warrenville South this season. ... Prospect defeated St. Viator and then took second in a five-team invite. Bri Arzbaecher has been consistent for the Knights, while Emma Prejssing and Bella Peshek were praised for strong leadership by coach Brad Rathe. ... Huntley won a 6-team invitational at Pinecrest with a 160, 11 strokes better than Burlington Central. Huntley's Lorelei Oomens shot 36 to win the tournament while Burlington's Emily Koh was third with a 38.