The Red Devils might have finished in first place with a 342 at the Class AA St. Ignatius sectional Tuesday at Cog Hill, but coach Janelle Marconi knows the team could have scored better.

“I think we played under our potential,” Marconi said.

She does not blame it on the cold weather, but believes the team needs to work on their short game.

“I think our putting was on issue today,” Marconi said. “We definitely have to turn around. We have to be more aggressive, more focused.”

But that focus might come with more experience. The Red Devils are a young team with three freshmen and one of each other class.

“At this point in the year, it’s the team that has that focus that’s going to advance,” Marconi said.
Still, the Red Devils weren’t the only team struggling as evident by their finish. But it was only a point over Wheaton South.

“It definitely was a close one,” Marconi said.

And Marconi is still proud of her young team.

“It was a great opportunity for a young team to show what they got,” Marconi said.

After the state competition, most will return next year, including the team’s top finisher Erin Ahern who scored an 81 (40-41).

Ahern had a bad hole on the 12th, but parred four of the next five.

“That (12th hole) was the turning point,” Ahern said. “I could have given up.”

She looks forward to competing at state.

“At state, we really have nothing to lose,” Ahern said. “We made it further than anyone thought.”

Freshman Rosanna Lederhausen carded an 83, freshman Danielle Brown had an 85 and both sophomore Carlee Schwartz and senior Dena Capitani posted a 93. Sophomore Jacqueline Bruns also competed and totaled a 97.