High school girls golf: Johnsburg wins 1st regional title; Richmond-Burton's Davis wins medalist honors

BULL VALLEY – Johnsburg’s Ellie Johnson picked the right day to shoot the best round of her career. Johnson, a sophomore, led Johnsburg with a 12-over-par 83 at Wednesday’s Class 1A Johnsburg Regional at Boone Creek Golf Club in Bull Valley.

Johnson finished second overall, individually, and the Skyhawks won their first regional title in girls golf program history.

“This is our fifth trip in a row to sectionals, but we’ve never gotten the trophy,” Johnsburg coach Chris O’Niel said. “This was definitely a goal and we had to play really well to do it. One through six, we saw some good scores today, so it was pretty cool."

Johnson shot a 2-over 38 on the front nine, and a 45 on the back nine. Ceara Mulvey (91), Gracie Berthoud (92) and Taylor Blake (110) recorded scoring rounds for the Skyhawks.

“Thankfully my aim went really well today,” Johnson said. “I just had a feeling that I knew what to choose. I knew how to play the wind. I felt confident in myself.”

Johnsburg’s 376 team score was four shots better than second-place Harvard (380). Winnebago (402) also advanced its entire team to sectionals in third place. All advancing golfers from Wednesday’s regional will head to Monday’s Class 1A Aquin Sectional at Park Hills Golf Course in Freeport.

Richmond-Burton’s Lauryn Davis (82) won medalist honors, topping Johnson by one stroke for the individual title. Davis holed a putt for birdie from about 40 feet on her first hole, which set the tone. She added a 20-foot putt for par on her 18th hole.

Davis also recently replaced her old, cracked driver.

“I just got a new driver,” Davis said. “I’ve been working on that for the past month. I think keeping [the ball] in the fairway was what I needed to do to shoot lower scores.

“My expectation was to be one of the top five. I knew I had a good chance.”

Davis was the Kishwaukee River Conference champion in 2017. This year she tied for third in the conference, which she said motivated her heading into regionals.

Johnson’s second-place 83 was a personal best, “obliterating” her previous 18-hole best according to O’Niel.

“She’s a great ball striker,” O’Niel said. “She gets off the tee well, and today she was thinking one or two shots ahead. To play at that level, you have to do that.”

With its second-place team finish, Harvard advanced to sectionals for the first time since 2006, according to coach Doug Sijersen.

Joelle McMillan (87), Jennah Brookner (91), Emma Ackland (94) and Julia Chupich (108) tallied Harvard’s 380 team score.

A year ago, Harvard advanced three golfers through regionals individually. At that point, Sijersen said he knew his team was capable of advancing in the near future.

“They’re young – four sophomores, a junior and a freshman – there’s still a future,” Sijersen said. “They hit everything right. We’ve hit every goal we wanted this year, while watching them just keep getting better and better and better.”

Along with R-B's Davis, Marengo’s Carlie Seemann (98) and Brooke Aubry (106) advanced individually.

STAR OF THE MEET

Lauryn Davis, Richmond-Burton, sr.

Davis won medalist honors, beating out Johnsburg’s Ellie Johnson by one stroke. She was R-B’s only golfer to advance to sectionals.

THE NUMBER

1: Johnsburg won its first regional title in girls golf program history, beating out Harvard by four strokes for the team title.

AND ANOTHER THING …

Advancing golfers will head to Monday’s Class 1A Aquin Sectional at Park Hills Golf Course in Freeport.

IHSA Class 1A Johnsburg Regional

at Boone Creek Golf Club, par 71

Medalist: Lauryn Davis (R-B) 82.

Team scores (top three advance): 1. Johnsburg 376, 2. Harvard 380, 3. Winnebago 402, 4. Richmond-Burton 422, 5. Byron 428, 6. Marengo 429, 7. Rockford Christian 452, 8. Stillman Valley 455, 9. Oregon 457.

1. Johnsburg: Ellie Johnson 83, Ceara Mulvey 91, Gracie Berthoud 92, Taylor Blake 110 (Hailey Bullamore 112, Savannah Prouty 116).

2. Harvard: Joelle McMillan 87, Jennah Brookner 91, Emma Ackland 94, Julia Chupich 108 (Alexis Lehmann 114, Pieper Fiegel 122).

3. Winnebago: Alison Lowtharp 96, Ashley Potter 96, Addy Provi 102, Rachel Rittmeyer 108, Alyssa Thompson 108 (Leigha DeRango 129).

Advancing individuals: Lauryn Davis (R-B) 82, Megan Thiravong (Roch) 86, Grace Haas (SV) 97, Paige Bukowski (Byr) 98, Carlie Seemann (Mgo) 98, Emily Kneller (RC) 101, Ashlynn Challand (SV) 101, Rylie Colombi (RC) 106, Brooke Aubry (Mgo) 106, Grace Kultgen (Byr) 106.

McHenry County local teams

Marengo: Carlie Seemann 98, Brooke Aubry 106, Adriana Georgiades 109, Mackenzie Smith 116.

Richmond-Burton: Lauryn Davis 82, Alaina Robinson 108, Darci Retherford 110, Sierra Simecek 122.