A foursome carrying area hopes to the girls state golf tournaments in the Carbondale area this weekend features three fresh faces and a seasoned veteran.
Kaneland junior Hayley Guyton is making her third straight appearance at state and hopes to continue her climb up the standings after tying for 68th place as a freshman and taking 42nd last year.
She will be joined in the Class 2A field at Hickory Ridge Golf Course in Carbondale by the Batavia duo of sophomore Tara Cullerton and junior Megan Ramp.
Competing in the Class A meet at Crab Orchard Golf Club in nearby Carterville will be Somonauk freshman Jessica Schultz. The 36-hole events feature 18 holes today and 18 Saturday.
"She's starting to peak at the right time," Kaneland coach Mark Meyer said of Guyton. "She was first at (the Belvidere North) Regional (78) and second at (the Guilford) Sectional (75). She's gaining confidence and I think that's important headed into state. I expect her to keep improving and think she has a very good chance of finishing in the top 20."
Having played Hickory Ridge her freshman year at state should help.
"It's a difficult course with a lot of hills and some tight fairways and some that slope toward hazards," Meyer said. "It's definitely a challenge. I'm glad she played it before."
Batavia coach Leon Pedraza is pleased to have two qualifiers emerge from his team that finished third in the sectional at Cog Hill, just five strokes behind runner-up Wheaton Warrenville South.
"We came so close, but it was a great learning experience," Pedraza said. "Next season we have everybody back, and to have two players with state experience may help us get there next year as a team. "I told Tara and Megan to enjoy it and be selfish. We always stress the team finish, but this weekend they're playing for themselves."
The players took advantage of a Thursday practice round to familiarize themselves with the layout.
"It's hilly and if the wind kicks up, it can play havoc with your ball," Pedraza said. "It has big greens and fast greens, too."
Schultz entered the season with virtually no tournament experience but did follow the exploits of older sister Nicci, who made it to state three times in her career at Somonauk and went on to play four years at Northern Illinois University.
First-year coach Kurt Alsvig said, "Walking into this my first year is like finding treasure in the basement."
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