Marian Catholic girls golf team readies for another tournament run

Marian Catholic won the East Suburban Catholic Conference girls golf tournament Friday and is enjoying a near-perfect season following its sixth-place finish last year at the state tournament.

The Spartans have continued the tradition of coach Linda Gilley's teams this past decade. They are 13-0 (9-0 ESCC) and have won three invitationals (Marian Catholic, Bishop McNamara and Schaumburg) and finished second in three others.

"This is pretty much been our year," Gilley said.

The Spartans today will play in the Homewood-Flossmoor Regional at Coyote Run Golf Course, where they placed second a year ago. Everyone is back from last year's squad that finished 12-1 (9-0 ESCC), including Sylvie Brick and Bree Veasey.

"Sylvie and Bree are our 1-2," Gilley said. "They fluctuate back and forth. They've each won individual invite titles this year."

Also back are Samantha Barlage and Alexandra Palmer, and Abby Brunner and Nina Nicpon round out the top six players.

"I'm seeing improvement across the board," Gilley said. "It's just another year of maturity and experience that's helped them."

Gilley said last season helped with experience and confidence, and the girls took it a step further, playing in several junior tournaments during the summer.

"They knew that we'd have an opportunity to improve on what we did last year," she said.

After adding the ESCC title Friday, the team is focused on another run downstate.

"Absolutely," Brick said. "We are really happy and excited for the rest of the season in the next two weeks."

The Class AA Homewood-Flossmoor Regional will be followed by the Marist Sectional on Monday. The state meet is Oct. 14 and 15 at Hickory Point Golf Club in Decatur. The top three teams will advance from the regional and sectional.

The Spartans best team finish in the single-class system was in 2005, when they placed second with Sammi Sloan, Lindsey Haines, Meg Gilley, Ann Vrdolyak, Jill Nicholas and Lauren Pascarella.

"It would be wonderful to win the sectional, and our first priority is to get down to state," Gilley said. "We want to improve our finish from last year and to get into the top three to bring home a trophy."

Brick, who shot 71 last year at the regional, said the team is focused.

"We all know what our responsibility is, and we all know what we need to do," she said. "Everyone feels a responsibility to do our best for the team. We don't want to let each other down. We've created something very special that each one of us wants to be a part of.

"That's what fuels and makes us want to practice and work harder. Most importantly, we have fun together, we laugh. We enjoy each other, and we want to do well."

Camaraderie makes the Spartans special, as with Gilley's teams in 2005 through 2007 that finished second, fourth and third in the state. The 2007 team finished with a two-day total of 623 at the state tournament.

"I'll be thrilled if they can break or set the record when we get to state," Gilley said.