BELLEVILLE - Freeburg won its first girls regional golf championship Wednesday afternoon when the host Midgets easily outdistanced Steeleville and Anna-Jonesboro in the Illinois Class A Freeburg Regional at The Orchards.

The Midgets totaled 371 strokes to the Warriors (423) and Wildcats (424) over 5,001-yard, par 71 course. Those three teams advanced to the Anna Sectional on Tuesday at Union County Country Club. Chelsea Nagel of Steeleville was the medalist with an 88.

"That's really good. I did not know that," said Freeburg coach Doug Haas, when informed that it was his school's initial championship. "Our focus today was just advancing and getting out and hopefully playing a solid round. Then, hopefully making the trip to state. That's what everybody dreams about when they start a sport at the beginning of the season."

After tallying 371 on Wednesday on a course that's tough for anybody to score well on, the Midgets might make that maiden voyage to Carterville on Oct. 16-17.

Sophomore Abby Bergkoetter led the way with an 89 followed by sophomore Jackie Kilian (90), junior Taylor Koeller (94) and Italian transfer student and junior Eleanora DeMarchi (98). Sophomore Jill Oberholtzer shot a 100.

"You have to take your time and try to hit it straight," said Bergkoetter. "I just thought of today as just another match and didn't worry about it that much."

Freeburg's surprise of the day was Kilian. After placing in the Cahokia Conference meet last week, she had the team's low score until Bergkoetter came in with her 89.

"I had a lot of good hits and a couple of bad ones," said Kilian. "But it was better than usual. I think coach (Jill) Dalke is good luck because she was watching me."

Dalke is the former Jill Gomric, the 1994 state champion from Althoff, who went on to stardom at the University of Arizona. Dalke now teaches math at Freeburg and helps out part-time with the golf team.

"Being on our own course was a little bit of an advantage," Haas said. "We're young and our girls are improving. They're getting, better and better and better."

Individually, Andrea Hartmann (106) and Bianca Durbin (109) both of Red Bud were the only locals to advance to the Anna sectional.

In the Okawville Regional at Roland Barkau, the host Rockets were third to winner Nashville (400) and Carterville (426). Hannah Gill of Carterville was the medalist with an 83.

For Okawville, Kaylyn Furhop (97), Alexis Lintker (99), Stephanie Gaebe (114) and Keatyn Meier (122) scored. Janel Lake (131) and Logan Rasch (158) also played for the Rockets.

In the Class A Staunton Regional at Timber Lakes, the host Bulldogs (433) bested Roxana (442) and Columbia (452) for the team title to advance to Monday's Auburn Sectional at Lakeshore Golf Course in Taylorville. Elyse Banovic of Staunton was the medalist with an 86.

For Roxana, Jordan Sheraka (89), Aria Ordlock (107), Caden Anderson (110) and Marissa Farris (136) shot the scores that counted, while teammate Abbey Revelle carded a 137.

Columbia was paced by freshman Megan Biscan (103), Elly Stout (114), Rene Ribolzi (116) and Kelsey Middlekamp (119) also scored. Katie Colbert (126) and Taylor Maglasang (131) also played for the Eagles.

Individually, Casey Beckmann (99) and Kayla Taylor (120) of Breese Central, Jessica Rigg (102) and Kyla Hediger (125) of Greenville, Beth Brueggemann (102) of Wesclin, Amanda Ellison (114) of Lebanon, Suzi Johnes (116) of Alton Marquette and Sam Shiber (130) of Wood River all advanced to the Auburn Sectional.

In the Class AA Carbondale Regional at Hickory Ridge, defending state champion Marion easily won the team title with 314 strokes over Althoff (343) and Highland (368). Marion's Cassie Rushing carded a 1-over par 73 on the 5,506-yard, par 72 course to earn medalist honors.

Marion, Althoff and Highland all advance to Monday's Althoff Sectional at Clinton Hill in Swansea.

"The girls have been very, very consistent all year," Althoff coach Tim Gehrs said by phone. "We're fortunate that we've got seven girls who can all for nine holes be in the low 40s and for 18 holes be in 80s all the time. It's the same old deal everyday and it's a good thing.

"We don't have anybody that's super fantastic. But we've got everybody that's all right there."

That was evident on Wednesday as Ashley Von Alst shot an 84, Nicole Johnson and Riley Keltner each had 86s and Kelsi Wuller recorded an 87. Also shooting were Abbey Woods (88) and Maddie Elbe (91).

"We worked really hard this year and it just a good fitting for all of us to play well and qualify as a team," Von Alst said by phone. "We really want to try to make it as far as we can this year. We're just trying to give it our all."

For Highland, Megan Jakel (80), Ashley Wellen (86), Taylor Kauhl (98) and Hayley Welz (104) shot the scores that counted. Also scoring was Sarah Trobaugh (105) and Kayla Martin (119).

Individually, Kristi Tschudin (79) and Miranda Lidisky (91) of Belleville East, Caitlin Osborn (85) and Alexis Gatton (93) of Edwardsville, Jae Yang (79) of Mascoutah, Amy Faus (90) of Waterloo, Katie Milleville (94) of O'Fallon and Lauren Abrahamson (94) of Triad all advanced to the sectional.

In the Quincy Regional, Morgan Mayberry of Civic Memorial was the lone individual from the area to advance to Monday's sectional after shooting a 93 over the 4,946-yard, par 71 Westview Golf Course. Normal U. High (317) won the title behind Katherine Hepler's 3-over 74, who earned medalist honors.

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