Sports
Luchtenberg Shoots 36, Vikings Finish Second at Mill Creek
Freshman Abby Luchtenberg's blazing 36 paces the Lady Vikings in Tuesday's home meet. For the season, Geneva's girls golf team is packed with youth and potential but still looking for a breakthrough win.
They are young and inexperienced, but the Geneva girls varsity golf team has put up some good numbers so far this season.
On Tuesday, the girls golf team finished second behind St. Francis but handily defeated Glenbard South in a "tri" meet at Mill Creek Golf Club. Geneva was paced by Abby Luchtenberg's very sharp 36. Tara Richter shot 43, April Comperda 48 and Elise Anderson 54 for Geneva.
Geneva's 181 team score was six off the pace. St. Francis scored 175, and Glenbard South 214.
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This season, the girls golf team placed fourth in the Huntley Invitational and fourth in Plainfield Central Invitational. They've had a handful of second- and third-place finishes in meets but are still looking for a breakthrough win.
In the past two years, the girls golf team has lost eight sectional qualifiers to graduation, including Kim Conner, a two-time state qualifier.
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"This team has definitely been part of a rebuilding year," head coach Eric Hatczel said. "But despite losing some great golfers, we have gained some very talented young players."
One addition is freshman Luchtenburg, who shot 39 in the Huntley Invitational, 85 in the Hershey Golf Invitational, and 40 in the Neuqua/Waubonsie Valley Invitational.
"She is very knowledgeable about the game and brings in some very low scores," Hatczel said.
Another key player is sophomore Megan Kelly, who Hatczel says "has stepped up nicely and has become a consistent scorer for the team this season."
Still, the golf team has some work to do if they want to be competitive in the Upstate Eight's River Division.
"Each of the girls is capable of putting together low rounds. We just haven't been able to do it all at the same time," Hatczel said. "As a team, we really need to work on our consistency. Part of that is the fact that our team is younger."
Batavia and St. Charles East are early favorites to win the River Division, but who knows? The Lady Bulldogs and Lady Saints might be surprised.
"Where some would see (our youth) as a disadvantage, I feel that it is great for the future," Hatczel said. "Combine that with the current capabilities of the girls, and we could see them start to put together some good golf."
Next up: The girls JV golf team hosts Westmont at 4 p.m. today at Mill Creek Golf Club. The Lady Vikings varsity hosts St. Charles East and Lake Park at 4 p.m. Sept. 7 at Mill Creek.
