Journal & Topics Media Group

Girls Golf: Stevenson, Prospect Win Regionals


Area girls golf teams hit the links Wednesday, Oct. 7 in regional action, but only three teams and seven individuals qualified for sectionals in a tough new format.

Only the top two teams and top four individuals outside the top two teams qualify for sectionals. Many area golfers fell just short, though they would have qualified under the previous format of the top three teams and top 10 individuals. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the numbers were cut this year, making it harder for all.

Here’s a look at how the girls golf regionals went and who’s advancing from each:

 

Lake Forest Regional (Class 2A): Stevenson (312), Lake Forest (334), Highland Park (339), Vernon Hills (351), Deerfield (376), Carmel (388), Libertyville (393), Wheeling (429)

Location: Deerpath Golf Course (par 36-35 — 71)

Recap: Stevenson, the defending Class 2A state champion, won its fourth regional title in program history and second in a row with a 22-stroke win over host Lake Forest at Deerpath Golf Course. The Patriots previously won regionals in 2008, 2009 and 2019. Stevenson and Lake Forest advance to Dundee-Crown sectional at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee Monday, Oct. 12. Vernon Hills’ Lexi Schulman (3-over-par 74) won medalist honors, while Stevenson’s pair of Chelsea She (38-37 — 75) and Allie Santos (37-38 — 75) tied for runner-up honors. Chelsea She sank 3 birdies (1-under-par for a hole) and Santos made 2 birdies. The Patriots were also led by Megan Lee (41-38 — 79; tied 5th), Emily Duan (45-38 — 83; tied 10th), Briana Fidman (40-43 — 83; tied 10th) and Rylie Pryor (44-42 — 86; tied 13th). Duan, one of the top golfers in the state, struggled at times Wednesday, but also had one of the best holes of the day. Duan sank an eagle (2-under-par for a hole) on hole 14, sinking the ball in 2 strokes on the par 4 hole. While Stevenson finished first, Wheeling rounded out the field in last place as they faced some of the top teams in Lake County. Wheeling was led by JoJo Stepek (50-46 — 96), Gaby Plascencia (56-53 — 109), Sarah Huh (53-57 — 110), Julia Konrath (61-53 — 114), Carley Bowman (65-55 — 120) and Jaclyn Neukirch (73-76 — 149).

Stevenson’s No. 3 golfer Allie Santos tees off from the first hole at Bittersweet in Gurnee.

 

Barrington Regional (2A): Barrington (294), Burlington Central (340), Huntley (341), Fremd (353), Lake Zurich (363), Buffalo Grove (384), Palatine (391), Hampshire (413), Jacobs (414), Dundee-Crown (435)

Location: Bonnie Dundee Golf Club (par 35-36 — 71)

Medalist: Barrington’s Mara Janess (34-34 — 68) 3-under-par

Recap: Barrington won its 20th regional title in epic fashion, topping runner-up Burlington Central by 46 strokes. The Fillies finished second at state each of the last four seasons, but will have to aim for a sectional title instead of a state title this year. Fremd was the top Journal-area team, but they missed sectionals by 13 strokes. Fremd’s Sarah Sim (42-44 — 86) is the only Journal-area golfer to advance to the Dundee-Crown sectional at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee out of this regional. Sim birdied hole 2 to highlight her performance. Fremd’s Aerin Oh (43-44 — 87), Shreya Mantena (47-43 — 90) and Mayu Aso (46-44 — 90) would have likely advanced to sectionals under the old format, finishing top 10 as individuals outside the qualifying teams, but instead saw their run end. Fremd’s Madison Park (48-44 — 92) and Grace Arango (47-49 — 96) also missed the cut. Buffalo Grove was shutout from sectionals despite their best efforts. Eva Ruterschmidt (42-46 — 88), Sofia Neswold (45-45 — 90), Caroline Branas (49-53 — 102), Marisa Kurowski (53-51 — 104), Hannah Mueller (59-47 — 106) and Eva Mason (60-57 — 117) led Buffalo Grove. Ruterschmidt would have qualified for sectionals along with Nesworld under the previous format of 10 individuals, but instead is going home with the rest of the Bison. Palatine was led by Allison Mirczuk (48-47 — 95), Abbey Van Brunt (43-53 — 96), Mayhek Acharya (49-51 — 100), Caitlin Quinn (47-53 — 100), Emily Panczyk (45-60 — 105) and Coralyn Johnson (64-61 — 125) in their final showing of the season. No Pirates golfer was close enough to qualify as an individual. Outside of Fremd’s Sim (86), individuals advancing to sectionals are the Huntley trio of Nina Shaffer (82), Lorelei Oomens (83) and Molly Baker (83).

Buffalo Grove’s Eva Ruterschmidt watches her ball go down the course.

Schaumburg Regional (2A): Prospect (324), York (343), Rolling Meadows (352), Lake Park (356), Conant (369), Hersey (371), Schaumburg (374), Elk Grove (398), Hoffman Estates (413), Addison Trail (486)

Location: Schaumburg Golf Club (par 35-36 — 71)

Recap: It took seven years, but Prospect is back to where they feel they belong: regional champions. Prospect won its eighth regional title in program history, but first since winning state in 2013. The Knights won regional titles in 2002, 2003, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. The Knights advance to the Rolling Meadows sectional at Arlington Lakes Golf Course in Arlington Heights, Tuesday, Oct. 13, with York. Prospect’s Emma Preissing (37-38 — 75) won medalist honors by 1 stroke over teammate Bri Arzbaecher (35-41 — 76). Rounding out the Knights lineup were Abby Knott (44-40 — 84; 7th place), Bella Peshek (45-44 — 89; 15th), Kate Riesing (44-47 — 91; tied 19th) and Josie Kaczkowski (51-45 — 96; tied 29th). Arzbaecher was extremely impressive on the front nine, shooting even-par 35 after making par on all nine holes. She struggled a little on the back nine to let Preissing earn the medal. Preissing shot par for all but four holes, where she bogeyed (1-over-par) holes 7, 9, 16 and 17. Rolling Meadows’ Margaret Lennon (41-44 — 85; tied 8th) advanced to sectionals on her home course as an individual, but it came at the expense of teammate Natalie Anderson (42-44 — 86). Lennon birdied hole 8 for one of her highlights. Lennon made it close at the end, shooting 4-over-par over the final three holes to only advance by 1 stroke over Anderson. The Mustangs also competed with Sarah Tanny (45-45 — 90), Lauren Schiele (45-46 — 91), Natalie Von Oesen (49-47 — 96) and Jessica Perns (47-51 — 98), but they all missed out. Conant’s only qualifier was sophomore Sadie Zorrilla (39-44 — 83; tied 5th). Zorrilla sank 3 birdies (holes 2, 7, 11) to finish top five as an individual. Conant’s other golfers were Molly McFadden (47-46 — 93), Ariel Morrison (51-44 — 95), Ananya Gupta (51-47 — 98), Sarah Carr (46-53 — 99) and Mia Withers (51-53 — 104). Under the past format, Hersey would have qualified two individuals to sectionals, but with only four spots open, the Huskies fell just short and saw their season come to an end. Sydney Ohr (43-44 — 87) and Ava Johnsen (43-47 — 90) just missed out by under 5 strokes for Hersey, Sarah Ebert (47-47 — 94), Lauren Steininger (46-54 — 100), Erin Neary (48-53 — 101) and Raegan Nelson (55-50 — 105). Ohr birdied hole 17, but missed qualifying as an individual by 2 strokes. Ebert birdied hole 2 for the Huskies as well. Elk Grove was the final Journal-area team, but the Grenadiers didn’t have any sectional qualifiers. Elk Grove was led by Megan Steffens (39-54 — 93), Grace Majer (48-47 — 95), Samantha Szull (49-51 — 100), Libby Wirtz (56-54 — 110), Jessica Groenhof (61-60 — 121) and Rachel Gore (68-58 — 126). Steffens birdied hole 7. She was able to finish strong after a rough start. She went 12-over-par from holes 14-17. Inconsistency haunted some of the golfers, including a fellow Grenadier. Gore birdied hole 14, but shot 14-over on holes 15-18. Lake Park’s Marisa Lerario (79) and Schaumburg’s Emily Akers (82) were the final two individual sectional qualifiers.

Prospect’s Emma Preissing takes a swing at the Knights Invite in Aug. 2020.

Johnsburg Regional (1A): Johnsburg (353), Marian Central Catholic (366), Harvard (389), Wheaton Academy (403), Regina Dominican (420), Montini Catholic (424), Richmond-Burton (426), Resurrection (426), Trinity (430), DePaul College Prep (435), Marengo (445), St. Edward (488)

Location: Boone Creek (par 35-36 — 71)

Recap: With one of the heavy favorites to win the regional knocked out before the event, Johnsburg and Marian Catholic were able to run away from the field and advance to sectionals. St. Viator was scheduled to compete, but withdrew after the school reported a few cases of COVID-19. None of the golfers caught it, but per the school rules, sports and activities had to be postponed 14 days effective Monday, Oct. 5. The top Journal-area team still in the field was Regina Dominican in fifth place. The Panthers were led by Carrie Hines (48-51 — 99), Jane Keenan (52-54 — 106), Mia Touhy (60-47 — 107), Madison Maloney (57-51 — 108), Maggy Shaw (60-50 — 110) and Grace McAuliffe (57-57 — 114). Regina finished 6 strokes ahead of Resurrection, the other area team, but the Bandits finished in eighth place out of 12 teams. Resurrection was led by Bella Gamboa (47-50 — 97), Madison Pronek (51-52 — 103), Madison Smith (59-48 — 107), Christine Cornwall (58-61 — 119), Eileen Schenfeld (60-61 — 121) and Alexandra Bazzianos (67-56 — 123). Regina and Resurrection each failed to advance an individual to sectionals.

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