Girls Golf: Kelly Sterling shines as Lincoln-Way East claims second at sectional
By Logan Malloy For Sun-Times Media October 8, 2012 10:36PM
Kendall Paris, of Homewood-Flossmoor, drives off the 10th hole for girls golf sectionals at Coyote Run golf course, Monday, October 8th, 2012 in Flossmoor, IL. | Gary Middendorf~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: November 10, 2012 6:25AM
Lincoln-Way East hadn’t finished outside the top three in any tournament this season. Monday, behind standout Kelly Sterling, the Griffins made sure to continue hitting the podium in their most important match to date.
Scaling the 12-team Class AA Marian Catholic Sectional at Coyote Run in Flossmoor, East totaled a 342 on a brisk to finish as runner-up, allowing the Griffins to book their second trip to the state championships.
The state championships will be held Friday at Saturday at Hickory Point Golf Club in Decatur.
“Coming in, we knew we had to battle to make it as a team,” East coach Mary McGivern said. “With these conditions it was a tough day out there. It was anyone’s opportunity, and we made the most out of it.
“It was a special day for our team.”
It wouldn’t have been nearly as special without the play of Sterling. The sophomore battled gusting winds and a hourlong frost delay to top the 112-player field with a 3-over-par 74.
Sterling’s round included two birdies as she outlasted Lincoln-Way West’s Alexis Biedrzycki and three other golfers by one stroke.
It was a flip-flop of sorts after Sterling finished second to Biedrzycki at the Joliet Central Regional.
“We were over there adding up all the scores to make sure we’re going (to state),” Sterling said about her team. “We knew we had a chance to take third. It’s really exciting to take second.”
Katie Reno (80), Karoline Pirko (92) and Hanna Petraitis (96) all contributed for the Griffins as East finished behind champion Hinsdale Central (316) and ahead of Lyons (340) and Naperville North (350) — the latter two programs the Griffins had lost to earlier in the season.
Providence (365), led by Maddie Utter’s 85 and Maggie Corso’s 88, finished fifth. The top three sectional finishers move on to the state championships.
Advancing to state in individual competition are Biedrzycki and Lemont’s Bridget Lynn, the latter of whom shot an 81 Monday.
The shot of the day was produced by Lockport’s Kayla Garritson, who scored a hole-in-one on the 129-yard par-3 13th hole. Garritson finished with a 93.
