Lady Bruins sneak into sectionals

St. Bede’s Olivia Dean shoots over the pond during regionals at Spring Creek. (BCR photo/Chris Yucus)

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SPRING VALLEY— When the final scores were tallied at the end of Wednesday’s girls golf regional at Spring Creek, host St. Bede and Westmont found themselves locked up in a third-place tie with identical scores of 442.

When the cards were examined further, St. Bede’s fifth-place finish of senior Rachel Struna’s 131 was two strokes better than Westmont’s Jana Flint, advancing the Lady Bruins to next Monday’s Byron sectional.

“I was sweating it,” said St. Bede coach Rich Cummings. “Obviously it’s close when you go to a fifth score.”

“I was actually having a bad day, but I’m so glad that even though I had a bad day it helped us get to sectionals,” said Struna.

Rock Island Alleman captured the team title, shooting a 390 behind medalist Abby Frideres’ 84. Somonauk snagged second place, led by Jessica Schultz and her second-place round of 85.

The Lady Bruins were led by senior Bekki Prokup, whose round of 93 was good for a fourth-place overall finish.

“I’m really excited that we’re moving on, that was my goal all along,” Prokup said. “Our fifth score counted. I’m real excited that Rachel could pull through with us.”

St. Bede qualified for only the second time in school history, with the last time the Lady Bruins qualified for sectionals coming during Struna and Prokup’s freshman campaign.

“I’m so happy, my freshman year we go to go to sectionals for the first time ever, and now it’s my senior year and we’re ending it that way,” said Struna.

Along with Prokup and Struna, the Lady Bruins’ card was filled out with a 103 from Olivia Dean, a 121 from Katie Gregorich, and Hanna Billig’s 124.

Princeton finished fifth overall in the team standings at 461, with Alizabeth Fiorini (107), and Jessica Headley (111) both advancing to sectionals as individuals.

“I thought we played pretty well today, close to what we were capable of playing,” said Tigresses coach Charlie Yelm. “It came down to the last player or two if we were going to make it as team.”

“The back nine was kind of bad, I could have done a little better but I was still kind of happy with my score,” said Fiorini. “The front nine I was really happy with my score.”

“I’m really happy that I get to advance,” Headley said. “There were a couple holes that I struggled with, but I managed to pull through.”

Bureau Valley, which entered regionals with a full team for the first time in school history, finished sixth with a score of 556. Abby Nielsen missed out on a return trip to sectionals, as she finished ninth amongst individuals from non-qualifying teams, four strokes off of the qualifying pace with a 115.

“You can’t be prouder for her the way she performed on her second nine...after a tough 64 on the back she came through with a 51,” said Storm coach Duane Price, who added that his senior has shown constant improvement throughout her high-school career.

Hall’s lone golfer competing was Deja Ramsey, who finished 41st with a round of 154.

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