Girls Golf: Lincoln-Way East captures league title
By Tim Tierney For Sun-Times Media September 26, 2012 9:56PM
Kelly Sterling, So., Lincoln-Way East, during fall sports photo day at Lincoln-Way East in Frankfort, Il on Sunday August 19, 2012. | Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media
Updated: October 29, 2012 6:29AM
Lincoln-Way East sophomore Kelly Sterling won her second SouthWest Suburban Blue title and the Griffins ended Homewood-Flossmoor’s five-year conference reign Wednesday at Old Oak Country Club in Homer Glen.
Lincoln-Way East totaled 332 ahead of runner-up Sandburg (388) and third-place Lockport (413).
“It’s great for our girls,” Lincoln-Way East coach Mary McGivern said. “They’ve been working really hard, in the offseason and during this season. For them to play as well as they did today and take the conference championship is hard work paying off.”
Sterling shot 74 (34-40) over the 5,298-yard, par-71 course after struggling at the beginning.
“I had a really bad first five holes,” Sterling said. “I had double bogeys and bogeys. Then I came back with some birdies and pars. I just forgot about the bad holes and just played golf.”
“She’s one of the best golfers in the state,” McGivern said. “She has a beautiful swing. She has an even-tempered demeanor. You can’t tell if she’s 5-over par or 3-under par.”
Sterling had played Old Oak several times in the past and didn’t claim unfamiliarity with the course for a slow start.
“I’ve played it for fun, I’ve played it in tournaments and last year it was sectionals,” she said. “I think it’s a little tough because there’s a lot of trees, but it’s not that bad if you can hit the ball straight.”
East senior Katie Reno shot 81 (41-40) to take second. Also scoring for the Griffins were Hannah Petraitis with an 84 (42-42) and Emily Rush with a 93 (48-45).
“We all contribute almost every tournament,” Reno said. “We were pretty confident. We were watching out for Sandburg, but in the end we got it.”
“We set the goal to take first place in the conference, but anything can happen on any given day,” McGivern said. “All the way down the lineup, the girls had the best 18-hole rounds for the season. On this stage, to have their best rounds is great for them.”
Sandburg was led by Frankie Saban (90), Emily Cosler (93), Jackie Dahlberg (98) and Alex Kappel (107). Kayla Garritson (99) was low scorer for Lockport.
Kendall Paris shot 93 for defending champ H-F, which finished fifth.
“We lost some great players, so it’s a rebuilding year,” H-F coach Brad Kain said.
Not at Lincoln-Way East.
“I feel like we can do well at regionals and sectionals too,” Sterling said. “Everybody is starting to play really well.”
