BULL VALLEY – A not-so-great practice round leading up to Wednesday's Class 1A Johnsburg Regional was no cause for alarm for Skyhawks girls golf coach Chris O'Niel.
"We had a really good practice round where we played terrible but had fun," O'Niel said. "They knew what the day would look like. They played loose."
Johnsburg's good times continued at Boone Creek, where the Skyhawks set a program record for lowest tournament score and claimed their second regional championship in three seasons.
Johnsburg posted a team score of 353 to beat its previous best of 367, set earlier in the season, and Marian Central (366) was 13 shots behind the Skyhawks to grab the second qualifying spot at the 12-team regional.
Skyhawks senior Ellie Johnson won medalist honors with a 7-over-par 78, beating North Shore Country Day's Caroline Gray (79) by a shot. Johnsburg's Gracie Berthoud took third with an 81, Taylor Blake shot 96 and Hailey Bullamore carded a 98 to round out the scoring.
Johnsburg, which is making its seventh straight sectional appearance, and Marian will play Monday at the Seneca Sectional at The Creek in Morris.
Harvard's Emma Ackland (88) and St. Edward's Ivy Burnett took (90) two of the four individual qualifying spots not on advancing to also make it through. After shooting a 49 on the front nine, Burnett bounced back with a 41 on the back to qualify for sectionals.
Johnson said playing at Boone Creek, the Skyhawks' home course, played to their advantage.
"We know this (course) basically blindfolded," said Johnson, a regional medalist for the first time. "For me, most things just kind of lined up. I was really comfortable over the ball, really trusting of my swing and clubs."
Berthoud and Blake both came through with personal bests for the Skyhawks.
"I was 2 over for nine holes, and that's never happened," Berthoud said. "It was kind of weird playing that good, but I really had a rhythm going. I was landing greens and making my putts."
Bullamore said the pressure of Johnsburg's season potentially ending at regionals weighed on her. Johnson, Berthoud, Blake and Bullamore are all seniors.
"We're going to be there for each other no matter what," Bullamore said. "It's a miracle, that's all I can say. We had to play our best. We powered through."
Marian grabbed the second qualifying spot, 23 shots ahead of Harvard (389), led by senior Lauren McNulty (82) and freshman Ella Notaro (87), who were fourth and fifth, respectively.
Ava Notaro shot 96 and Ingrid Reyes added a 101 to round out the scoring for Marian.
McNulty, a four-year varsity golfer, will play in her fourth sectionals after going as an individual the past two years. McNulty was on the previous Marian Central team to go to sectionals as a freshman.
A year ago, Marian did not have enough golfers to qualify as a team.
"After recruiting a lot of new girls, where this is their first year playing golf, to be able to move on as a team is exciting," said McNulty, who posted the best state finish of any local 1A golfer last season. "Being able to go (to regionals) as a team again makes the experience a lot more fun."
Ella Notaro left her first postseason tournament with a medal for taking fifth.
"It was kind of crazy," said Notaro, who made one birdie. "I was a little worried because it's my first real tournament, but I think it was really fun. I enjoyed it."
For Ackland, a senior, it will be her fourth time at sectionals. She was nine over through five holes, but made back-to-back birdies on the sixth and seventh holes to turn her tournament around.
"It means a lot to me because it's my senior year and I figured I wouldn't be able to go again because (the IHSA) cut everything down," Ackland said. "It's kind of awesome, I get another chance to go."
Wheaton Academy placed fourth with a 403, led by Caroline Kelly's 98 and Anna Jones' 99. Montini (424) took sixth, with Kristina Singleton leading the Broncos with a 98.
Richmond-Burton's Alaina Robinson and Harvard's Joelle McMillan tied for ninth with 94s. Marengo was led by Emma Leucht with a 98. Caterina Calabria had a 100 for IC Catholic.
Class 1A Johnsburg Regional
at Boone Creek in Bull Valley, par 71
Medalist: Ellie Johnson (Jbg) 78
Team scores (top 2 advance): 1. Johnsburg 353, 2. Marian Central 366, 3. Harvard 389, 4. Wheaton Academy 403, 5. Regina Dominican 420, 6. Montini 424, T7. Richmond-Burton, Resurrection 426, 9. Trinity 430, 10. DePaul College Prep 435, 11. Marengo 445, 12. St. Edward 488
Top four advancing individuals (not on advancing teams): 1. Caroline Gray (North Shore Country Day) 79, 2. Emma Ackland (Hvd) 88, 3. Katarina Sheirok (Trinity) 89, 4. Ivy Burnett. (St. Ed) 90
Johnsburg (353): Ellie Johnson 78, Gracie Berthoud 81, Taylor Blake 96, Hailey Bullamore 98
Marian Central (366): Lauren McNulty 82, Ella Notaro 87, Ava Notaro 96, Ingrid Reyes 101
Harvard (389): Emma Ackland 88, Joelle McMillan 94, Alexis Lehmann 103, Julia Chupich 104
Wheaton Academy (403): Caroline Kelly 98, Anna Jones 99, Ellie Coniaris 101, Vivian Kutek 105
Montini (424): Kristina Singleton 98, Maddie McDowell 102, Mary Mikolajczak 112, Brighid Barrett 112
Richmond-Burton (426): Alaina Robinson 94, Sierra Simecek 102, Makenna Donohoe 106, Megan Miltimore 124
Marengo (445): Emma Leucht 98, Cadence Leucht 113, Kiley Christopher 115, Mary Grace Reed 119
St. Edward (488): Ivy Burnett 90, Nina Filippi 116, Lauren Cogley 140, Lily Burger 142