Girls Golf: Cailee Beisswanger enjoys match-play experience

Updated: August 1, 2012 4:51PM

It didn’t seem to matter that Cailee Beisswanger’s first experience in competitive match play was a short one. The Hinsdale Central junior seemed to enjoy the rare opportunity.

Beisswanger earned the final berth out of 16 into match play at the Chick Evans Junior Amateur by winning a one-hole playoff July 24 over Niquole Mangal of Naperville. Beisswanger parred the playoff hole after shooting matching 81s in her first two rounds of stroke play.

Beisswanger, an Oak Brook resident, lost the next day in match play, 5 and 4, to top-seeded Heather Ciskowski of Barrington. The only other West Suburban resident to reach the Round of 16 was Dana Gattone of Addison, who lost her first round of match play as the ninth seed.

The tournament champion was Arlington Heights resident and Buffalo Grove senior Grace Kil, who beat Bing Singhsumalee of Neuqua Valley, 3 and 2.

“Match play was different than stroke play,” Beisswanger said. “If you mess up on one hole, it doesn’t matter.”

Beisswanger, who tied for 88th in last year’s Class AA state meet, competed in her first Chick Evans Junior Amateurs, one of the biggest tournaments of the summer in the Illinois Junior Golf Association. The girls portion of the field included 36 players. The only other local player was Burr Ridge resident Danielle Brown, who was 26th.

Beisswanger is one of four returning golfers from fourth-place Hinsdale Central at the state meet, joining Rosanna Lederhausen, Colleen Ahern and Jackie Bruns.

On Monday, Beisswanger tied for second place in the IJGA’s 17-player Southwest Junior at Broken Arrow in Lockport. Beisswanger carded an 83 to tie with Katie Reno of Mokena, but the duo placed far behind winner Courtney Williams (77) of Naperville. Zoe Wong (89) of Hinsdale tied for fourth.

One of Beisswanger’s final tournaments of the summer before tryouts begin Aug. 8 is the IJGA’s Southside Junior Thursday at Ravisloe in Homewood.

Beisswanger placed 15th in her first IJGA tournament of the summer on May 21 at Medinah, but has heated up the rest of the year with five top 10 finishes. Her only win was a 78 at a regional July 17 at Mistwood Golf Course in Romeoville. The next day, Beisswanger shot an 82 to take third place at the Chick Evans qualifier at Winnetka Golf Club.

“I’ve played pretty good,” Beisswanger said. “I’ve worked a lot on my swing and my short game, especially putting. I usually putt pretty good, but in the match play it was not my day.”

Beisswanger’s brother, C.J., graduated from Hinsdale Central in June and will attend Elmhurst College this fall.

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