State golf preview: Libertyville’s Simone Mikaelian

SIMONE MIKAELIAN, LIBERTYVILLE FRESHMAN HOW SHE GOT TO STATE Mikaelian began her Class AA Buffalo Grove Sectional Monday at Buffalo Grove Golf Course on fire, with birdies on three of her first six holes. She stroked just 13 putts on the front nine, cruising to a round of 77 that was four shots inside the cut line. THE SKINNY It’s been six years — Alex Hein in 2007 — since Libertyville had a state qualifier. Mikaelian is a consistent ball striker from tee green, with strong recovery skills after poor shots. But it’s her putting that has made the difference in the state series. She three-putted just once Monday in Buffalo Grove. BY THE NUMBERS 2002. That was the last year the Wildcats qualified a freshman for the state tournament. That season, Nicole Schachner made it and finished in a tie for 19th place. Friday, Mikaelian is scheduled to tee off at Hickory Point Golf Course in Forsyth at 10:27 a.m., the final tee time of the day. QUOTABLE “Being a freshman, she’s not tuned in with the pressure. She does a lot of homework on courses, looking on Google Earth for aerial views. She’s really committed to preparing.” — Coach Greg Pedersen