No one can stop Lincoln-Way East’s Kelly Sterling in the SouthWest Suburban tournament.
Sterling won the SWSC Blue as a freshman and sophomore. She conquered the SWSC Red last season after East switched divisions.
This year was no different.
Sterling carded a 2-under 70 at The Sanctuary on Thursday to become a four-time conference champion.
“Can I have her back for a fifth year of eligibility?” East coach Mary McGivern said with a laugh.
Sterling, an Illinois-Chicago recruit, registered five birdies. She said her round could have been even better if she didn’t hit a water hazard on No. 17.
“I think it’s definitely one of the cooler things I’ve done,” Sterling said of becoming a four-time champ. “But I definitely want to win state. I think that would be a little cooler.
In her first three years, Sterling never finished outside the top 30 in Class 2A. She’s also only one of four players to have hit a hole-in-one at the state tournament.
“It’s a nice to shoot under par right before regionals and sectionals,” Sterling said. “We’ll be back (at The Sanctuary) for sectionals.”
Lincoln-Way West’s Alexis Biedrzycki finished second with a 76. The Michigan State-bound senior was 4-over at the turn but managed to shoot par on the back nine.
“It gives me confidence knowing that I can start bad, but then scrap something together that will work out in the end,” Biedrzycki said.
Lincoln-Way Central’s Mary Yonkaitis placed third with an 81, the best score of her season. Yonkaitis played in the same foursome as Sterling and Biedrzycki.
“It made me to try harder to keep up,” Yonkaitis said of her pairing. “But they’re such nice girls — they’re not robots — so it makes it easy play with them.
“I placed ninth here last season so I’m very happy with third and the 81. I was driving really well and my chipping saved me a few times.”
Lincoln-Way East posted a 350 to run away with the conference title and repeat as champion. Lincoln-Way West (377), Lincoln-Way Central (380) and Lincoln-Way North (381) battled for second in the six-team event.
Along with Sterling, East received contributing scores from Nell Borys (fourth, 87), Taylor Miron (seventh, 95) and Erin Bullington (10th, 98).
Lincoln-Way North put three in the top 10: Hannah Hill (fifth, 90), Anne Allen (eighth, 96) and Sara Gyrgus (ninth, 97).
Lincoln-Way Central’s Bridget Wood placed sixth with a 94.
