Sterling, Reno advance for Griffins

Updated: October 10, 2011 7:40PM

Kelly Sterling was torn between beaming and frowning.

She had just advanced to the IHSA’s Class AA golf championship as a freshman for Lincoln-Way East, which even her sister Kathy didn’t do.

But Lincoln-Way East wasn’t going as a team. The Griffins’ total of 66-over-par 350 placed them fourth, three strokes behind third-place Lyons Township, the final sectional qualifier at Old Oak Country Club in Homer Glen.

“It means a lot to make it because I’m a freshman,” said Sterling, who contributed one birdie to her total of 7-over-par 78 on Monday. “I made a few mental mistakes today. I hit the wrong club a few times.”

Sterling will have come company. Katie Reno’s 83 also made the grade. Reno was part of a four-way tie for seventh that just avoided a playoff.

Emily Lejman (Lemont, 78), Krystal Garritson (Lockport, 82) and Alexis Biedrzycki (Lincoln-Way West, 76) also qualified individually.

“Going downstate was my goal all season,” said Lejman, who chipped in for birdie on the par-3 fourth. “I played a practice round here Sunday and shot 73, and I was so much more confident today because of that.”

Garritson’s putter was working, and one of the few on a day with rounds running over six hours coupled with pernicious pin placements.

“I made a long putt for par on No. 1, and that got me going,” Garritson said. “It wasn’t my best round, but my putting was outstanding.”

The numbers were cruelest for Providence. The Celtics had four players advance from regional play, and the quartet’s total of 347 would have tied Lyons Township for the third team place, had they been allowed to play for a team spot. Kelly Brightmore’s 13-over 84 led the Celtics, but that was a stroke more than needed to advance as an individual, so Providence will not be represented at Hickory Point.

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