Kil, Miller, Aren advance to State

Updated: October 11, 2011 6:58PM

If the putter would’ve cooperated, Grace Kil could’ve posted a scary number.

The Buffalo Grove High School junior still fired a 2-under par 72 on Monday to finish second in the IHSA Class 2A Buffalo Grove Sectional. Kil punched her ticket to state by conquering Buffalo Grove Golf Course.

“Her irons and approach shots were very strong,” said Bison coach Matt Myers. “If she had putted as well as she’s capable, she could’ve been four or five under.”

It didn’t take long for Kil to be dialed in. On No. 2, she whacked a shot from 210 yards to within 12 feet of the cup. She missed the eagle opportunity, but tapped in for her birdie.

“After that hole, I knew she would have a decent day,” Myers said.

Barrington freshman Julia Calbi earned medalist honors with a 70.

Kil heads to the state tournament at Hickory Point Golf Course in Forsyth for a third straight year. She finished 35th as a freshman and grabbed the seventh-place medal as a sophomore.

“She relishes the competition,” Myers said. “I know she’s been waiting for the sectional the entire season.”

Kil also has kept one eye on the state tournament.

“Her track record shows she’s a contender,” Myers said. “Hopefully, she plays to her ability.”

Buffalo Grove took seventh in sectional (342). The other scorers were sophomore Amber Guiao (86), sophomore Courtney Meyer (91) and sophomore Kelli Zickert (93).

The Bison reached the sectional as a team by placing second in the Lake Forest Regional on Oct. 5. The leaders in that meet were Kil (72), Guiao (80), Zickert (91) and Meyer (93).

Stevenson girls

Stephanie Miller didn’t bring her ‘A’ game to the IHSA Class 2A Buffalo Grove Sectional on Monday. But the defending state champion is still alive after posting a 2-over par 76.

“Survive and advance,” said Patriots coach Andy Conneen. “We’re in NCAA mode right now.”

Miller will venture to Hickory Point Golf Course in Forsyth this weekend with one goal in mind.

“She’s keeping her eyes on the prize,” Conneen said. “She wants to defend her state championship.”

Conneen knows Miller was not satisfied with her effort at Buffalo Grove Golf Course.

“She was frustrated with some errant iron shots,” the coach said. “She had some missed opportunities.

“But she’s also very happy to qualify for state,” the coach added.

Stevenson took ninth as a team (350). The other scorers were Nikki Marquardt (85), Anna Kaszuba (93) and Mary Beth Popielewski (96).

“One of Nikki’s goals was to get the team Downstate or make it down by herself,” Conneen said. “She missed it by six shots, but we’re taking steps in the right direction.”

In the Lake Forest Regional on Oct. 5, Miller took medalist honors with a 5-under par 67. The Pats took third, thanks to the work of Marquardt (93), Katie Pepping (95), Molly Cizek (96) and Popielewski (96).

Stevenson boys

When Reed Aren walked off the course, he didn’t expect his 77 to be good enough to qualify for state.

After waiting nearly three hours for all the scores to come in, Aren received the good news: he had one of the 10 best scores from a non-qualifying team in Monday’s IHSA Class 3A Fremd Sectional.

The junior punched his ticket by shooting 40-37 at Hilldale Golf Club in Hoffman Estates. He will compete at The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course in downstate Bloomington this Friday and Saturday.

“I was driving the ball solidly and my putting was good,” said Aren, who heads to state for the first time in his career.

Stevenson took fourth as a team. The club posted a 316 to miss the final qualifying slot by three shots (Barrington took third with a 313). The other Patriot scorers were Nick Geissler (79), Jack Spellman (80) and Amaran Sandhu (80).

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