SWANSEA • Only four individuals will represent the Metro East on Friday and Saturday in the Illinois Class AA girls state golf tournament at Hickory Ridge Golf Course in Carbondale.
Caitlin Osborn (76) of Edwardsville, Jae Yang (80) of Mascoutah, Kristi Tschudin (81) of Belleville East and Kelsi Wuller (85) of Althoff advanced from the Althoff Sectional on Monday at Clinton Hill Golf Course.
Defending state champion Marion claimed the team title, shooting 320 to Normal U. High's 323. It was the Wildcats’ third straight sectional championship.
After Osborn, a senior, learned she would make her fourth straight trip to state and second in succession as an individual, she couldn't hide the excitement.
"I surprised myself a little bit," said Osborn, who shot 40-36. "I'm happy. I don't know what else to say. It was tough out there today. But as long as you played in the right place, you were good."
Wuller, a junior, will make her first trip to the state tournament.
"It's very exciting," she said. "I thought our team would go, but ... It's definitely a treat to make it out by myself."
Even though Clinton Hill is the Crusaders’ home course, Wuller, the No. 5 player on the team, admitted the 5,450-yard, par 71 course would be hard to navigate. She shot 42-43.
"The course is not very easy, but I did play a very good round today," she said. "I just wanted to get to state. I was just motivated. Yeah, I kind of did surprise myself."
Osborn carded the third-best score of the day behind medalist Campbell Hunt (73) of Marion and Lauren English (74) of Normal U. High. Marion and Normal will be two of 10 teams fighting for the state title Friday and Saturday.
"My swing just felt ... I didn't have to think about it today," said Hunt, who shot 36-37 to lead the Wildcats. "I was kind of in a zone today. I didn't even think about my score the whole time. I knew what I got on each hole. That's what I've been trying to do lately. Not think about my score."
Hunt felt her team "was really lucky that we won. We've just got to kick it in gear now. We have to play our best possible to have a chance to win."
In the boys Class 3A Pekin Sectional at Lick Creek, Brett Denap of Granite City shot the best score of the St. Louis-area players Monday when he recorded a 74. He was followed by Alex Flaugher (76) of Edwardsville, Nathan Nottrott (76) of Collinsville, Devlin Keenoy (77) of Edwardsville, Dan Weiler (79) of Edwardsville and Colin Ahlvers (79) of Collinsville.
Those six will try to win a state individual title at The Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington on Friday and Saturday. Providence Catholic (307) won the sectional title and Quincy (308) finished second. Edwardsville shot a 315 team score to finish fourth, and Granite City had a 334 to wind up seventh. Both schools failed to qualify for the team tournament.
In the Class A boys Benton Sectional at Rend Lake Golf Course, Drew Weisenborn of Columbia and Steve Souchek of Gibault were the only two area players to advance to the state tournament at Prairie Vista in Bloomington on Friday and Saturday.
Weisenborn had a 71 over the 6,400-yard, par 72 Rend Lake course, while Souchek shot a 73.
In the Class 2A Waterloo Sectional at Annbriar, Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin won the team title with a 313 and Springfield High was second, beating out Centralia. Both schools carded 314s, but Springfield won the spot in a fifth-score playoff.
Individually, only three area players will play in the state tournament at Weibring Golf Club at Illinois State in Normal on Friday and Saturday. James Leopold of Althoff and Wils Hawn of Waterloo each carded 75s, and Brandon Bargetzi shot a 76.
Today, Freeburg will play in the girls Class A Anna Sectional at Union County Country Club as the Midgets try to advance to the state tournament at Crab Orchard Golf Club in Carterville on Friday and Saturday.
The Midgets overwhelmed the field to claim their own regional last Wednesday, shooting a 371 and beating Steeleville by 52 strokes. It was the school's first regional championship.
Abby Bergkoetter was one of four Freeburg golfers to break 100 when she recorded a team-best 89, followed by Jackie Kilian (90), Taylor Koeller (94) and Eleanora DeMarchi (98). Jill Oberholtzer scored a 100.
Playing individually for a chance to earn a state trip will be Andrea Hartmann and Bianca Durbin, both of Red Bud.
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