Wauconda’s Liv Romer can recall only a few details of her performance at the 2019 Class 2A Mount Prospect Sectional.
A freshman at the time, Romer was satisfied with simply advancing to the sectional. She was Wauconda’s only golfer to make the cut.
“Making sectionals last year was a big surprise because I was one of the youngest ones out there,” Romer said. “I don’t even remember too much from sectionals. I was so nervous.”
One year later, Romer punched her ticket to the sectional round again, carding an 8-over 80 for meet medalist honors at the Class 2A Wauconda Regional at Prairie Isle Golf Course in Crystal Lake on Wednesday.
By shooting a 41 on the front nine and closing strong with two birdies on the back nine for a 39, Romer led the Bulldogs to a 370 score and their first regional title in the second year of the program.
Mundelein shot a 380 to also advance to the Dundee-Crown Sectional at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee on Monday. Junior Kellie Shanahan paced the Mustangs with a 90. The sectional will be the last round of the postseason due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Warren finished third, nine strokes shy of the cut, followed by Lakes with a 396, Prairie Ridge with a 411, McHenry with a 414, Crystal Lake Central with a 420, Antioch with a 436, Grayslake North with a 438 and Grant with a 440.
Lakes senior Allison Kennedy shot an 89 to advance as one of the top four golfers not from sectional qualifying teams.
Wauconda coach Michael Buhr said it was a memorable day for his program.
“This means a lot, especially with these girls coming out last year and only having five girls,” Buhr said. “We battled through a lot. … This speaks to how hard they work. I can’t wait to see how next week plays out.”
Romer’s consistent play all season helped set the tone for the Bulldogs’ breakout campaign. She was the medalist at the Northern Lake County Conference Meet and led Wauconda to that title too.
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Romer said she’s been busy juggling softball and golf this fall and is ecstatic to extend her season another week.
“This year, my goal is to improve and be a better player,” she said. “I want to place in the top 10 at sectionals. I have way better knowledge of the game and don’t make as many bad decisions as I did last year on the course. It helps that I have more distance, and my short game has improved a lot, in my putting and chipping. It was a great regional.”
Buhr said Romer has been the catalyst for Wauconda’s significant improvement since last season.
“Liv put in a lot of work since last season by going to clinics, taking lessons and going to the range,” he said. “She’s a girl that hits long off the tee, which definitely plays to her advantage. She also worked a lot on her short game. It’s made a huge difference.
“We’re excited about her accomplishments but also how the team did. We’re a young team with only two seniors and have come together.”
Warren coach Leigh Ann Mondrawickas-Boncher said her team picked a bad time for an off day.
“We had some ups and downs throughout the season, but it just wasn’t our day today,” she said. “We only lose one senior, but we have a lot of returning players to go with a lot of young talent on our junior varsity team.”
Grant coach A.J. Havenga said his team is improving.
“We didn’t have a great record-wise season, but the girls got a lot better,” he said. “We had a lot of new girls come out. We only lose two seniors in our top six, so things are looking up for next season.”
Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.