Kil, Miller Headed to State Again

If every hole was a par 5, Grace Kil's life would be full of applause and awards.

In other words, the junior can really pound a golf ball.

"I hit my driver 260 yards," Kil said on Tuesday. "I got all my birdies on the par 5s. I would get on the green in two shots and then make two putts."

Golf season is over for both the Buffalo Grove girls and girls teams. The Bison shot a 342, good for a tie for seventh place at the BG sectional. Stevenson closed its season in ninth place (350).

In better news, both the team's top two players, Kil and Stevenson's defending state champion, Stephanie Miller, will play again this fall. Both players will report to Red Tail Run Golf Course in Decatur on Friday for the IHSA state tournament.

Highland Park won the sectional by 14 strokes over runner-up Prospect. Fremd finished third.

Kil went home in third place with a solid 72. Miller took seventh on the day with a 76.

Of course, Kil was playing on her home course, which helped.

"On the front nine, I missed a few shots," Kil said. "I couldn't make putts. On the back nine, I did much better."

Kil was consistent with a 37 and a 35. Despite her birdies on the par-5 holes, Kil was most proud of a par she rang up on the 13th.

"I couldn't see the signs so I just winged it," she said. "And I hit it two feet from the hole."

As a sophomore, Kil landed in seventh place in the state. She carded scores of 75 and 76 Downstate.

"Of course I would like to win it,'' she said. "But I'd like to go top 10. But everyone is so good down there."

This is one player who works on her game.

"It's all I do," she said. "In the summer, I get on the course at 6 a.m. and come off at 7 or 8 at night. I do take breaks."

Next up for the Bison was Amber Guiao who shot an 86. Also helping Buffalo Grove were Courtney Meyer (91), Kelli Zickert (93), Colleen Zickert (102) and Becca Winter (103).

At Stevenson: Miller is a threat to repeat her title at state. After all, she won the Lake Forest Regional last week with a brilliant 67. She won that event by eight strokes.

On Tuesday, the junior was on course after a 36 on the front nine. A 40 on the back derailed those plans, but her solid 76 will take her to state to defend that title.

BG's Kil will be watching Miller this weekend.

"We've been playing together since sixth grade," Kil said.

A year ago, Miller shot a 69 on opening day at state and took a two-stroke lead to the final day. Her 72 on day two gave her a four-stroke victory. As a freshman, she was eighth in the state.

Stevenson's next best score came from Nikki Marquardt (85). Also golfing for the Patriots were Anna Kaszuba (93), Mary Beth Popelewski (96), Molly Cizek (98) and Katie Pepping (110).