New Trier fielded three freshmen in its six-player lineup at the Central Suburban girls golf tournament on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
It’s the youngest team coach Scott Fricke said he’s had in his 12 seasons with the Trevians. Before this year, he said he couldn’t remember starting more than one freshman in any season.
“We were just looking to get them experience by playing them against the best teams,” he said.
Freshmen Penelope Tir, Lizzie Kenter and Abbie Kaestle all played for New Trier’s conference championship team at Sunset Valley Golf Course in Highland Park. New Trier shot a 335 to edge out Glenbrook North’s 336 for the team title.
Fricke said Tir, who tied for fifth with her 10-over 82, was a known commodity coming into high school.
“She was ready to go,” Fricke said.
But Kenter and Kaestle have been welcome surprises.
Senior Louise McCulloch, the team’s top player and a Northwestern recruit, has been a positive influence on all the younger golfers, according to Fricke. McCulloch took third at the league tournament and was the low Trevians golfer with a 78.
“She’s not only a valuable talent, but she’s taken care of these girls,” Fricke said of McCulloch. “To have a role model like her for them to look up to has been extremely valuable.”
McCulloch said she’s done her best to make the freshmen feel part of the varsity team.
“I told them they could ask me anything,” she said. “I told them I was a person they could talk to. They have handled everything amazingly.”
Glenbrook North
Spartans coach Mike Schroeder said Amy Hong has set the standard for future players in the program.
“She motivates everyone to be better,” the third-year coach said.
In her fourth year as a varsity golfer, Hong has done a lot. She’s played at three sectional tournaments and she tied for the lowest score at the Central Suburban tournament as a sophomore.
“[Emma Vickery and I] try to stay focused at practice and be good examples for the others,” said Hong, referring to the junior and third-year varsity player. “But we like to have fun, too.”
At this year’s conference tournament, Hong carded an 80 to finish alone in fourth. Vickery was one of three players to shoot in the 70s with her 77, which was good for second.
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“That was a breakthrough round for Emma,” Schroeder said.
The Spartans, who had three losses in dual meets during the regular season, surprised some teams by taking second to New Trier.
Glenbrook South
On the 133-yard, par-3 11th hole at Sunset Valley Golf Course, Sophia Lau made a quadruple bogey.
On the next hole, a 425-yard par 5 and the fourth-hardest hole on the course, the sophomore made a par.
That sort of recovery is exactly what first-year coach Michelle Caporusso wants to see from her team.
“All these girls have great swings,” Caporusso said. “The main thing we’ve been working on has been the mental part of the game and course management.”
Lau said she laughed off the big number and quickly forgot about it.
“I don’t know that I’ve ever had a seven on a par 3,” she said. “I was like, ‘Whoa, that actually happened.’ I think every golfer can improve on their mental game. It’s such a big part of golf.”
Lau ended up tying for fifth with an 82 to help Glenbrook South take third with a 342. The Titans were second to New Trier during the regular season.
Lau is one of three golfers who has played at the No. 1 position this season, Caporusso said. Junior Hannah Buchband and freshman Hanna Tanaka are the other two. Tanaka finished alone in eighth at the league tournament after an 83.
“Hanna loves the game so much, and it has inspired and pushed other player on our team,” Caporusso said. “She’s so passionate about golf, and she’s all about having fun.”
Niles West
As a freshman, Niles West’s Sara Dym played on the boys golf team.
She said it was a good experience, but it wasn’t by choice. At the time, Niles West didn’t have a girls team.
Now a senior, Dym is the best player on the school’s girls team, which is in its third year. At the Central Suburban tournament on Wednesday, Sept. 30, she shot an 86 to finish tied for 10th. The Wolves placed sixth after a 381.
“I like seeing our progress,” Dym said of the second-year varsity program. “We’re definitely taking golf more seriously.”
Dym isn’t the only four-year player for the Wolves. Seniors Katrina Nickell and Kristin Recinto also played golf on the boys team as freshmen. The three of them, along with junior Amanda Lee, have been the cornerstones of the budding program, which went from four dual wins last year to eight this season.
“It’s nice that they can play on the same girls team together,” said coach Richard Lee, who is Amanda Lee’s father.
Maine South
Payton Arger, the team’s No. 3 player in the lineup at the conference tournament, posted the Hawks’ best score after touring Sunset Valley Golf Course in 91 strokes. Maine South finished seventh as a team with a 423.
Evanston
Senior Liz Jolie led the Wildkits with a 103 at Sunset Valley Golf Course. Evanston finished ninth with a 444.
Maine East
While the Blue Demons didn’t field a full team, Lexie Moreno was one of two Maine East golfers at the conference tournament. She posted a 115.
Twitter: @harnesspreps
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