Leading the boys

Kaneland junior Hayley Guyton, who was a state qualifier in the girls tournament last season, has the lowest scoring average the Knights’ boys golf team and is one of the captains. (Rob Winner – rwinner@daily-chronicle.com)

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ELBURN — It's rare to see a high school girl golfing with the boys team. Yet it's even more rare to see a girl as the top golfer on the boys team.

Kaneland golf coach Mark Meyer is one person that knows what it's like to see a girl not just playing in the same tournament with the boys, but playing well against them.

Meyer has coached Kaneland junior Hayley Guyton for the past three years. Guyton was a state qualifier last season, and now has the lowest average on Kaneland's boys golf team and is one of the team's captains.

"It's certainly special that she can not only play at the level with the guys from the guys tees, but also have such a fantastic attitude about it," Meyer said. "I know that deep down she has a desire to play on a girls team and is really probably looking forward to being able to do that in college."

Colleges haven't shown much interest just yet, but Guyton could see more interest later in the season when state tournament play starts.

"If she can make some noise at the state tournament," Meyer said. "that's when you really start to get some attention."

Guyton, who has played varsity since her freshman season, has seen her average drop every year she's been in high school. She has gone from shooting around 100 her freshman year to shooting in the upper 70s at the start of this season. Over the summer, Guyton played in more than 10 girls tournaments and finished second place in four of them.

Although she says her putting can use some work, Guyton's strength is off the tee.

"Hitting the ball, I'm pretty consistent. If I have an off day, it's not too bad," Guyton said. "I really try to work on my game a lot. I do drills, I work with my swing coach, I put a lot of time and effort in."

Guyton, who golfs with the boys team during the regular season but plays on the girls side once the state tournament play starts, shot an 83 at regionals and a 79 at sectionals on her way to a state tournament appearance last season, where she finished 26th.

"My individual goal is to have an average around 38 or 39 for nine holes, and definitely to make it to state again," Guyton said. "That's what I really want to do."

Even though she is an unusual case of a girl playing on a boys golf team, Guyton says her teammates, as well as opponents, have treated her with nothing but respect since her freshman season.

"[Playing on the boys team] was pretty nerve racking at first," Guyton said. "The guys were really friendly, though. That made it really easy to play. And they didn't give me a hard time."

J.C. Gillett, Kaneland's other captain, says he and the rest of the team treat Guyton just like any other player.

"I don't think anything of it; She plays well and she deserves [respect]," Gilett said. "I think nothing of it when I go out and play with her."

TEAM PREVIEW CAPSULES

Genoa-Kingston

Coach: Mike Lauer (2nd season)

Key players: Jen Hulsey, junior; Kelsie Campbell, junior; Liz Brown, junior; Morgan Seargant, junior

2009 outlook: Hulsey and Campbell, both sectional qualifiers last year, will lead a Cogs team lacking in depth. Both players are good off the tee while Hulsey features a solid short game. The Cogs only had one win in conference play last season and are looking to improve on that total.

Lauer’s take: “Our depth is an issue. This year we want to try to advance as many kids and possibly the team. Next year we should be much better because of experience.”

Hinckley-Big Rock

Coach: Todd Prellberg (4th season)

Key players: Megan Gregg, senior; Hanna VanderMoere, senior

2009 outlook: With sectional qualifier Bianca Edmeier gone, the Royals will be counting on Gregg, who has shown a lot of improvement from last season, and VanderMoere, a sectional qualifier as a sophomore in 2007. Hinckley-Big Rock’s success depends on finding low scores behind those two.

Prellberg’s take: “We’re losing a low number that will be some big shoes to fill. With [Gregg and VanderMoere], I think we’ll be able to see quite a bit of success. We need to find that three and four to get some success as a team.”

Indian Creek

Coach: Dave Olson (1st season)

Key player: Kalia Foster, sophomore

2009 outlook: Indian Creek has a completely different look from 2008, as Foster is the only player returning from last season’s state-qualifying squad. The Timberwolves lost three seniors including Lindsay Richardson, who finished 23rd at the state tournament, while Taylor White transferred to DeKalb. Olson will have just four players in his first season, Foster and three other freshmen.

Olson’s take: “Just improvement day to day is all I can really ask for. (Foster) just started last year and got better as the year went on. She did everything she really needed to do for a freshman.”

Sycamore
 
Coach: David Burdick (1st season)

Key players: Nora Johnson, junior; Ashley Carlson, junior; Grace Haka, senior

2009 outlook: The Spartans do not field a full girls golf team. Taylor McAdams, a state qualifier last season, has graduated. Johnson is the only returning player from last year’s squad.

Burdick’s take: “The thing they all have going is they all catch on really quick. I would expect them to do well at regionals.”