• Submitted by: manso
• Sports
• 10 / 07 / 2010

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Both teams fare better than last season. East Peoria, Ill. — The East Peoria girls golf team made significant strides this fall in its second season as a program.

Their efforts culminated in a fifth-place Mid-Illini Conference tournament finish Thursday at Wee-Ma-Tuk Hills Country Club.

The Raiders were sixth in the final league standings with 6.5 points, combining a 2-5 dual mark and their ranking in the
18-hole finale.

Last season, East Peoria was seventh in a seven-team conference. In 2010, it ended up ahead of Limestone and Canton as the M-I expanded to eight schools in girls golf.

East Peoria shot a 417 in Cuba, an improvement of 105 strokes from ’09 in the same event.

"I'm extremely happy and very proud of my girls," EPCHS head coach Ashley Ricca said.

While the weather was infinitely better this year, there is no question the Raiders themselves had a lot to do with the
turnaround.

Lauren Bernard and Bridget Wolff paced East Peoria with rounds of 97 and 99, respectively.

Alex Grant had a 109 and Morgan Ciota and Bridget Banked both carded 112s.

Wolff and Grant earned second-team all-conference acclaim for their performances throughout the season.

One of the teams the Raiders outplayed was Dunlap, which went 5-2 in nine-hole matches.

"They made huge leaps as far as golf is concerned," said Ricca of the team members. "They've come a long way with their confidence."

The Eagles tumbled from third to fifth place after the tournament results were computed.

Pekin overtook Morton, which was 7-0 in duals, to win its fourth league title in a row.

Mackenzie Barker of Washington was the medalist with an 82.

Postseason: East Peoria is part of the 13-team Class AA Galesburg Regional Wednesday at Lake Bracken Country Club.

Exactly the top-10 individuals who are not members of a qualifying team and the top three teams will advance to Monday’s Pekin Sectional at Lick Creek Golf Course.

Boys golf

East Peoria made more progress than might be indicated by its final standing in the Mid-Illini Conference.

Although the Raiders advanced just one spot from 2009 with a seventh-place overall outcome, boys head coach Chris Frasco said the team was much more competitive.

After a winless campaign a year ago, East Peoria was 2-5 in the M-I in ’10. It also broke the 160 barrier in a Sept. 16 home dual.

The Raiders were seventh in the 18-hole Mid-Illini tournament they hosted Thursday at Quail Meadows Golf Course with a 361.

The two nine-hole victories, plus the seventh-place tournament standing, gave East Peoria 3.5 points for the season.

Brad Long topped the Raiders with an 86 in breezy conditions.

Along with the wind, quicker greens made scores higher than anticipated.

East Peoria senior Ross Johnson, who shot an 88, held on to a first-team all-M-I position.

“I thought he had a great season,” Frasco said of the honor for Johnson, who was a second-team recipient as a junior. “I’m happy for him.”

Joe Kelch had a 90 and Robbie Rogers a 97 for the Raiders, who nipped Canton by a stroke.

Pekin won its first conference crown since ’06 after completing a perfect season with a tournament-winning 313.

Dragon Cameron Cordts won the medal for low score with a 75.

Junior varsity: East Peoria was seventh overall at the underclass level with 1.5 points.

Alex Chapman led the Raiders in the tournament with a 92.

Washington added to its list of JV championships.

Normal Better Ball

East Peoria was 12th Saturday at Ironwood Golf Course, besting three others.

The Johnson/Kelch tandem was the Raiders’ leader with a five-over-par 77.

Rogers and Long combined for an 88 and Ryan Johnson and Nate Hill a 92.

Champaign Centennial was the winner by three strokes over with a team total of seven-over-par 223.

Postseason: East Peoria was one of eight teams involved in Tuesday’s Class 2A Bloomington Regional at Prairie Vista Golf Course.

Ross Johnson, who shot an 86, qualified for Monday’s Dunlap Sectional at Kellogg Golf Course.
 
Source: www.eastpeoriatimescourier.com/sports/x1423337985/East-Peoria-golfers-fi...