Margaret Hickey, Loyola junior
One of three Ramblers capable of carding rounds in the 70s, Hickey will look to better her tie for 38th at the Class AA state tournament last season. She won four Illinois Junior Golf Association tournaments this summer, including the Thursday, Aug. 6, event at Glenview Park Golf Club. She also posted two runner-up finishes in IJGA tournaments and two seconds in Mid-American Junior Golf Tour events.
Amy Hong, Glenbrook North senior
Hong has played at a sectional tournament in all three of her previous varsity seasons. The next step is to take her game to the Class AA state tournament. As a junior, she won one regular-season tournament, tied for fourth at the CSL tournament and took third at the regional. Her stroke average for 18 holes was 80.28. Hong appears ready to go after winning her third Illinois junior tournament of the offseason, an Illinois Junior Golf Association event on Wednesday, Aug. 5, at Wilmette Golf Club.
Louise McCulloch, New Trier senior
New Trier coach Scott Fricke said the Trevians are going to need McCulloch’s scores at the top of the lineup as well as her veteran presence. The Northwestern-bound player was the team’s low scorer at last year’s Class AA state tournament, where she tied for 18th. McCulloch won an Illinois Junior Golf Association tournament on Wednesday, July 29, at Glencoe Golf Club.
Nina Rutkowski, Loyola sophomore
Rutkowski, the lone freshman in Loyola’s postseason lineup last season, tied for 13th at the Class AA state tournament, and was the only Ramblers golfer to post both rounds in the 70s at Hickory Point Golf Course in Decatur. She showed she’s in form this summer by reaching the quarterfinals at the Chick Evans Junior Amateur in July at Itasca Country Club.
Blake Yaccino, Loyola senior
After posting the team’s fourth-lowest score at the regional tournament, Yaccino got her game in order. She tied for the low score on the team at the sectional the following week and then she led Loyola at the Class AA state tournament by tying for eighth. Yaccino capped her season with a 75 in the final round of the state tournament. It was her best round of the state series.
Twitter: @harnesspreps
