Now that all the postseason girls golf qualifying has ended, the real fun begins for the Nashville Hornettes, Okawville Rockets and Edwardsville Tigers.
Those three teams will try to bring home trophies from the Illinois Class A and AA state tournaments Friday and Saturday in Decatur.
The 12-team Class A tournament is at Red Tail Run Golf Club, while the 12-team Class AA tournament takes place at Hickory Point Golf Course.
"Everyone is working really hard because we want to do so well as a team," said Nashville standout Shawn Rennegarbe. "And we get along really well. We all support each other a lot. We want to do well as a team and represent the school and our coaches and our town.
"It's nice coming off as regional and sectional champs, but we all want more," she said. "And we all are ready to do that. Hopefully we'll improve from last year (when the team finished third) and maybe take home a title."
Nashville is one of the favorites to nab a team trophy for the second straight season, and Rennegarbe is one of the contenders for individuals honors.
But she will have to shoot better than the 78 she posted Tuesday at the Carterville Sectional.
"Hopefully Friday I'll be striking the ball well and making putts," she said. "It's just going to change. I'm getting ready for that, and I'm working on what I didn't do well (Tuesday) and what I need to improve on."
In addition to Rennegarbe, the Nashville team that won the sectional championship includes Natalie Johnson, Maddi May, Mollie Borowiak, Sara LaBusier and Katelyn Morris. The Hornettes won the sectional championship over Massac County. Surprising Okawville edged Highland by one stroke for third place.
Okawville coach Dave Blumhorst doesn't have a top-flight player like Rennegarbe. But he has the kind of depth that gives him a chance to win the school's first golf hardware.
"I think they are capable of doing better (than they did at Tuesday's sectional)," Blumhorst said of a squad that includes Kaylyn Furhop, Alexis Lintker, Janel Lake, Kara Schnoeker, Keatyn Meier and Logan Rasch. "We'll just see where the chips will fall on Saturday. Sometimes you need a little Lady Luck on your side. We had a little bit of that Tuesday."
Blumhorst's biggest challenge is to keep the girls on an even keel. Even when they hit bad shots, he's constantly reminding them to keep their heads up.
"I really try to preach grinding it out," he said. "Don't let it get to you. Forget that (bad) shot and go to the next shot. Obviously, I want to see the girls go for par on every hole. But once you take a shot away from having any chance of a par on a hole, figure out how you can get a bogey on a hole. Bogey is not a bad score, especially for girls golf."
In addition to the qualifying teams, four area individuals - Nicole Johnson of Althoff, Allie Leingang of Columbia, Morgan Mayberry of Civic Memorial and Abby Bergkoetter of Freeburg - qualified for the Class A tournament.
In the Class AA tournament, Edwardsville makes a return to state after a three-year absence. The Tigers, state champs in 2004 and third-place finishers in 2003 and '06, are led by sophomore Emilee Flaugher.
Flaugher fired a 76 at the Mattoon Sectional on Monday as Edwardsville (357) beat Galesburg (360) for the final state qualifying spot. Taylor Maggio, Lauran Belling, Brie Duvall, Austin Gordon and Emily Briley round out the Tigers lineup.
Miranda Lidisky of Belleville East and Alexa Boatman of O'Fallon also qualified for this weekend's play. Lidisky's brother, Sam, plays for Althoff, a top trophy contender in the boys Class 2A tournament at Weibring Golf Club at Illinois State University in Normal.
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