For the first time since 2012, the Girls’ Golf Team earned the title of Regional Champions yesterday after a great match at Shepherd’s Crook Golf Course in Zion. The Scouts used momentum from their first place finish last weekend at the Warren Invite to propel them to their success.
Senior Captain Isabella Martino medaled with the top score of the day, a 78. Other counting scores included sophomore Gianna Martino’s 88, freshman Chloe Lee’s 89, and senior Clare Green’s 90. The final team score was 345 strokes, five better than Libertyville. At 9:54 am, the girls teed off on the unusually hot day. Conditions became worse as the day went on, becoming very windy by the back nine. Isabella Martino says of her success, “Even though the greens were tough, my lag putting was very good. I would get close to the hole then just tap it in. My irons were also working well. On the front nine I hit almost every green in regulation. I was also able to manage the wind better than others.”
The toughest competition yesterday came from Warren and Libertyville, as they placed second and third respectively to advance to Sectionals. Lake Zurich, who placed second in Conference, did not have the same luck, as they did not advance. It will be exciting to see how Lake Forest competes with Stevenson in Sectionals, as they were not in the Scouts Regional but had a great score in Conference.
Coach Steve Johnson was exhilarated with their amazing day, saying, “We are so proud of the way the team played in tough conditions. Isabella’s strong play as the individual medalist helped push our team over the finish line to seal the win. It was a great experience for the whole team,” he said.
Sectionals will be held at Blackstone Golf Club in Marengo on Monday. The tournament will include 12 teams; the top three teams will advance to the State Tournament. Also, the top ten scoring individuals not on advancing teams from the Sectional tournament will advance to State in a separate individual competition. The Scouts hope to extend their winning streak and keep the season alive. The young team has been proven to have amazing senior leadership and a perfect balance of the seriousness needed of golfers as well as the light-heartedness it requires.
