Girls Golf: Natalie Papa leads Lincoln-Way East to regional title

JOLIET – Natalie Papa had a special fan alongside her for all 18 holes as she golfed in Thursday’s regional.

Her dad.

That’s Brian Papa, who is one of the state’s winningest soccer coaches.

Papa Papa was proud of his daughter and he should be, as she shot an even-par 71 to finish second individually and helped lead Lincoln-Way East to the team title of the Class 2A Joliet Township Girls Golf Regional at Inwood Golf Course in Joliet.

“My dad walked all 18 with me,” the younger Papa beamed of her father. “I appreciated that. It’s a good way to continue senior year. We’ve been a really strong team and have really great chemistry with each other. It’s been a really cool season.

“Things clicked when I needed them, and my irons were working well.”

[ Photos: Class 2A Joliet Township Girls Golf Regional ]

This was the second straight regional title for the Griffins and sixth in school history. They are one of three Lincoln-Way teams to advance out of the regional to play at the Washington Sectional on Monday at Quail Meadows Golf Course in Washington.

The Griffins easily won with a 316 team score. Lincoln-Way Central (335), which had won a regional five times in the previous six seasons, was second and led by a 69 score from medalist, Kaylee Dwyer. Lincoln-Way West (337) was the third qualifying team. Joliet co-op (340) placed fourth, followed by Minooka (354), Bradley-Bourbonnais (367), Plainfield Central (375), Ottawa (387), and LaSalle-Peru (401).

Papa, fellow senior Kailey White (73), junior Olivia Martin (84) and senior Savannah Berner (88) were the top four scores for Lincoln-Way East.

“You can’t beat having the experience on the team with our top two golfers having four years as varsity golfers,” Lincoln-Way East coach Mary McGivern said. “This is what they work so hard for, to lead the team to a regional championship.

“The girls have enjoyed the success, and it would be great to make it to state as a team.”

The last time the Griffins made it to state was 2013.

Lincoln-Way West never has made it to state as a team. But the Warriors have a shot now, and that’s more exciting to Dwyer, a sophomore, than her winning the individual title.

“It was awesome. It was fun,” Dwyer said of finishing with a 2-under-par 69. “But the most exciting part is I love my team, and I’m glad we all advanced. I played the first few holes pretty well and then hit a pause for a while. But the last two holes I birdied [with 5 total birdies on the day].

“The final hole [No. 9 for her] I knew I needed to make a 10-foot putt for a birdie, and I got it. That was awesome.”

The Warriors are young, with no seniors among their six players at the regional. In addition to Dwyer, it was freshman Peyton White (86), sophomore Olivia Kavaliunas (90) and junior Maggie Schwerha (92) with the top four scores on the third-place team.

Senior Claire Dubois shot a 78 to tie for fourth overall and to lead Lincoln-Way Central to second place. Sophomore Sarah Arsich (83), senior Sophia Bruozas (86) and senior Emma Vander Wall (88) were the top four scorers for the Knights.

“That’s really cool that all three Lincoln-Way’s get to go,” Lincoln-Way Central coach Brian Shannon said of the trio of District 210 schools advancing.

While Joliet just missed making it as a team, the Steelmen qualified three individuals. They are juniors Jamie Daniels (78, tied 4th) and McKenna Anderson (79, 6th), along with freshman Jersy Hauert (86).

“Coming in we knew it was a tough regional,” Daniels said. “I wanted to go to sectional with my team, but to go as an individual is still nice. I had three birdies in the last four holes, so I picked it up. My wedges and putter saved me.”

Joliet coach Jim Grzetich credited Daniels, who won the Homewood-Flossmoor Invite on Aug. 14 and helped the team win the SPC title for the fourth straight season, with a torrid finish.

“She was on fire at the end,” Grzetich said. “She had a quad bogey on 14 and then finished with a birdie, par, birdie, birdie. What a way to come back.”

Also qualifying individually for the sectional from local schools were Minooka senior Sarah Tamala (82, 7th) and sophomore Lauren McPhillips-Newcomb (89), along with Plainfield South senior Courtney Poston (90) and Plainfield Central senior Jenny Brooks (90).