Sandburg senior Emilyee McGiles doesn’t need to study the travel itinerary. She knows it all too well.
McGiles, a Southern Illinois recruit, booked her fourth trip to the Class 2A state tournament with a 1-over 73 Tuesday at Broken Arrow. It was a stellar round that placed her third in the deep 112-player Lockport Sectional, which featured four of the state’s top-10 individuals from last season.
“To be able to do it four years in a row — the first three with my team — is special,” McGiles said.
The top three programs and 10-best scoring individuals advanced to Friday and Saturday’s state tourney in Decatur.
McGiles led Sandburg (334) to a fourth-place finish behind reigning state champion Hinsdale Central (305), Naperville North (315) and Benet (317).
McGiles won’t be lonely on her first individual trip to state. Teammate Hannah Kilbane, a sophomore, carded a 77 to advance.
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“We were concerned we weren’t going to make it out as a team, and unfortunately it wasn’t our day,” McGiles said. “But I think they’re all going to come down and stay in the hotel with us and be there supporting. I’m really excited.”
Benet’s Lauren Beaudreau, a Lemont resident, ran away with medalist honors after shooting a 67. Naperville North’s Lauren Nay finished second with a 72, while Hinsdale Central’s Jessica Lee tied McGiles for third at 73.
Lee was last season’s state runner-up and Beaudreau placed fourth.
Meanwhile, Lincoln-Way Central’s dynamic sophomore duo of Grace Curran and Bri Bolden punched their tickets to state with a pair of top-10 finishes. Curran placed fifth with a 74 and Bolden took seventh with a 75.
“This was the main goal through the year and I’m just so happy to have gotten here,” said Curran, who narrowly missed the state cut last season.
“I feel a lot more prepared this year and I definitely want to make All-State,” Bolden said. “This year’s going to be a lot more fun since I’ll have my best friend (Grace) by my side.”
Marian Catholic’s Mira Nicpon tied Bolden for seventh with a 75.
“I had a lot of nerves to start,” Nicpon said. “I double-bogeyed my first hole, but I came back and birdied the next with a 20-foot putt.”
Providence senior Alyssa Gromala, a Wisconsin recruit, joined McGiles in earning her fourth berth to the state finals. Gromala fired a 76.
“Heading in, I think I was more nervous during my practice round,” Gromala said. “I’ve been dealing with a little bit of sickness. I was putting on the greens (Monday) and I wasn’t feeling confident. But I got here this morning and decided to go have fun.”
That positive attitude paid dividends as Gromala went 3-under on her first seven holes.
Lincoln-Way East’s Hannah Hill is another Southland individual moving on. Hill earned one of the final state-qualifying spots with a 79.
Logan Malloy is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.