Sandwich edges St. Bede for sectional berth at Edgebrook

SANDWICH – When Alijah Campbell walked off the course Wednesday, Sandwich’s girls golf team was in third place at the Class 1A Sandwich Regional.

As her teammates finished up, the Lady Indians remained behind St. Bede for the final sectional-qualifying spot. But as St. Bede completed its last few holes at Edgebrook Golf Club, Sandwich’s luck began to turn.

By the time the Lady Bruins finished, the Lady Indians jumped into second place, securing a berth in next week’s Seneca Sectional.

“It’s kind of stressful, but it turned out for the best, and I’m really happy,” Campbell said about waiting for the results.

Sandwich finished at 402, just ahead of St. Bede’s 403.

Rosary claimed the title with a 386. Seneca (461) was sixth, Earlville (511) finished 11th and Somonauk (558) was 12th.

“It’s a major accomplishment. Last year was the first time going [to sectionals] in school history, so going again is awesome,” Campbell said about the Lady Indians, who placed third in regionals last fall.

With COVID-19 restrictions, the IHSA cut the number of advancing teams down to two and the number of advancing individuals to four, leaving St. Bede on the outside looking in a year after the Lady Bruins captured a regional crown.

“I know we could have done better, but the course itself was really hard,” St. Bede junior Aleanna Mendoza said. “It wasn’t in the greatest shape, but I know we can do better. We were all a little off. We weren’t focused. It was just different from how we have performed in the past.”

Campbell led Sandwich, as she carded an 88 to place second individually, one stroke behind Plano’s Faith Malloy. Campbell made par on four holes and recorded birdies on No. 12 and No. 14.

“I thought it went really well,” she said. “I started out pretty rough trying to figure out the low point in my swing after waiting awhile after the warmup, but after the first seven holes I started to pick it up and finished strong.”

Sandwich had two other golfers in the top 15 in Gracie Donahue (100) and Morgan Ross (101). Melody Goldstein rounded out the Sandwich scoring with a 113.

“Coming in as the No. 4 seed at our home course, the girls put some pressure on themselves,” Sandwich coach Mike Butler said. “It’s a huge deal [to advance], especially with only the top two teams moving on. The girls worked hard. They kept their composure and finished it off.

“It’s a really nice experience for us.”

Mendoza led the Lady Bruins with a 98 to place 10th, followed by Gianna Grivetti (101), Brianne Briggs (102) and Payge Pyszka (102).

“My front nine was awful,” Mendoza said. “I lost so many balls. I definitely could have done better. My coaches were able to fix my swing. That really helped my back nine. My putting was good, but everything else was just bad.”

Seneca junior Rylee Stenzel carded a 97 to tie for eighth place, just one stroke shy of advancing.

“I do not think I played well at all,” Stenzel said. “I couldn’t putt at all. I lost every putt I had a chance on. I just didn’t play well. My irons and drives were good, but my putting was not good at all.”

Laura Yegge (108) was next for Seneca.

Marquette’s Kaitlyn Magoonaugh carded a 108 to tie for 21st.

Isabella Harp led Earlville with a 118, followed by Kaydence Harp (121). Somonauk was led by Brielle Dukovac (130).