TAMAROA, Ill. • Taking her usual confident approach helped Shawn Rennegarbe Wednesday afternoon.
The Nashville sophomore shot 2-under-par 69 to easily claim medalist honors at the Illinois Class A Pinckneyville Regional at the 4,343-yard, par-71 Red Hawk Country Club. Rennegarbe's standout effort also helped boost the Hornettes to their second straight regional team title.
Nashville recorded a 337, easily outdistancing second-place Althoff, which posted a team score of 355. Okawville shot 360 and finished third. Those three teams advance to the Carterville Sectional Tuesday at Crab Orchard Golf Club.
"I try to keep positive," said Rennegarbe, who carded a 35-34. "It's kind of hard to be negative and shoot good."
Everything was right for Rennegarbe, whose only negative was a bogey on the par-3 11th hole. That put her back to even, but she quickly followed with two consecutive birdies to move to 2-under, which was where she stayed the rest of the way.
"It was nice to come right back (with a birdie)," she said. "I wanted to finish strong. I wanted to come back and help my team. The birdie helped to get me back to even and come back through.
"I was happy with my round today. I only had the one bogey so that was good. I usually try to keep playing pars and that's what happened. I didn't make too many crazy shots."
Rennegarbe, who used her driver on only four holes, hit 10 of 13 fairways and found 14 of the 18 greens in regulation on a sunny and warm day.
"As a team, we played pretty good," said Hornettes coach Doug Kell.
Kell was pleased - but not surprised - by Rennegarbe's outstanding play.
"You can't say enough about the 69. She's striking the ball really well right now. I've seen it in practice and I expect it," he said. "It's a team event at this point, and we want to keep moving on to state. That's our plan."
In addition to Rennegarbe's score, Nashville used scores from Natalie Johnson (81), Madi May (92) and Mollie Borowiak (95) to win the title.
Althoff's Nicole Johnson had the second-best round of the day with a 5-over 76. She counted six bogies and one birdie in her round.
"For shooting a 76 and leaving shots out there, I'll take that," Johnson said. "If that is my bad round, I'll take that any day. I left quite a few shots out there. But I can't be upset with a 76. I didn't make any doubles."
In addition to Johnson, the Crusaders used scores from Megan Stephens (84), Maddie Elbe (95) and Jordan Lewis (100). Elbe's round should be scored with an asterisk - she shot 95 after taking a 16 on the first hole.
"I knew this was going to be a very, very tough day for all of us," Althoff coach Tim Gehrs said. "This is the toughest regional and toughest sectional in the state - big schools and small schools. This is the toughest without a doubt. Was I nervous about getting my team out today? Without a doubt."
Elbe's recovery was a key for Althoff.
"With Maddie taking a 16 on No. 1 and coming back and shooting a 51 on the front nine and a 95 overall is just unbelievable. She kept her head on her shoulders," Gehrs said.
Okawville's third-place finish was fueled by a 79 from Kaylyn Furhop. Also scoring for Okawfille were Alexis Lintker (91), Janel Lake (94) and Kara Schnoeker (96).
Advancing individually to Crab Orchard were Allie Leingang of Columbia (79), Heather McDaniel of Pinckneyville (81), Abby Bergkoetter of Freeburg (85), Jillian Oberholtzer of Freeburg (86), Catherine Hawn of Waterloo (86), Olivia Mathis of Pinckneyville (87), Jackie Kilian of Freeburg (87), Abbie Whitehead of Waterloo (87), Kendra Kessler of Sparta (88) and Megan Biscan of Columbia (88).
