Girls golf: Thornton, Hinsdale Central roll to regional title

Sarah Thornton and Caroline Owens certainly did not play like underclassmen Wednesday for the Hinsdale Central girls golf team.

Thornton, a sophomore, had few issues with Glendale Lakes in posting the low round, a 3-over par 73, at the Class 2A Glenbard East Regional.

Owens belied her age even more as the freshman fired a runner-up 75 and the Red Devils steamrollered the 10-team field with a 306 in Glendale Heights.

Naperville North, a four-time reigning state qualifier, edged Benet, 334-339, for the second team slot advancing to the Sandburg Sectional next Tuesday.

"I hit it really well," said Thornton. "I couldn't make any birdies but didn't have any big mistakes, so that really helped with my score. I feel pretty accomplished. I am just keeping my hopes up that we will have a state (tournament)."

Owens finished second as the Devils' fifth girl; Emily Ascher and Libby Larson rounded out the Devils' contributing scores with rounds of 78 and 80.

Owens fashioned a level-par 35 on her inward nine.

"There are a lot of good girls on the team," Owens said. "I didn't know if I was going to make varsity, but I'm really glad to be a part of the team. I was able to put together a good score."

Lucy Rayburn and three-time state qualifier Emma Kirvan propelled Naperville North with respective rounds of 79 and 83.

Rayburn had back-to-back birdies on the fifth and sixth holes to anchor her team-low score.

"That was really getting the blood flowing and keeping the momentum together," Rayburn said of her consecutive red numbers. "I had to factor in the wind. I think I played very well today."

Kirvan has grown accustomed to postseason success.

"I really had a great feeling we would be in first or second place today," Kirvan, bound for Nebraska-Omaha. "The only thing that was working for me was putting."

"I knew it was going to be tight between the two of us," Naperville North coach Greta Williams said of the Huskies' third straight regional showdown with Benet. "It was a nail-biter all the way to the end."

Erica Lei and Bhaavya Manikonda had matching 86s to complete the Huskies' scoring.

Benet had the solace of two at-large qualifiers in junior Olivia Ruffalo, third with a 76, and Grace George, who hit the individual cut on the number with her 85.

"I did a really good job of (playing) target golf," Ruffalo said. "I was hitting every thing safe, putting (my ball) where I wanted to be in good position for par."

Lyons Township junior Sylvia Kozub scored an 82 to extend her season.

The Lions were fourth with a 353.

Keanna Keen had one of the last two sectional berths with her 85 for Riverside-Brookfield.

Keen advanced out of the regional for a fourth consecutive year; the senior has one state appearance, as a sophomore, from two year ago on her resume.

"I knew (Glendale Lakes) was going to be really tight," Keen said. "I need to hit (my drives) where I wanted to. I left some putts out there that I definitely could have made."

Downers Grove North (355), Willowbrook (375), Wheaton Warrenville South (381), Glenbard South (386) and Glenbard East (431) had their seasons come to a close.