High five
At this rate, they might have to rename the Women’s Lincoln Highway Golf Tournament the Ember Schuldt Challenge.
Schuldt, the University of Illinois-bound Sterling High School graduate, claimed her fifth straight Lincoln Highway title at the 88th annual edition of the event Saturday at the Rochelle Country Club.
The 18-year-old Schuldt, a member of the Emerald Hill team from Sterling, was tied with 66-year-old Ruth Heal, a longtime LHT standout and a member of the Kishwaukee team from DeKalb, after Friday’s first round when both had scores of +15 in the best-against-bogey scoring format.
Saturday, Schuldt again carded a +15 to pull away from Heal, winning +30 to +22.
“This was one of my lowest [worst] scores in this tournament, but I was hitting the ball pretty well,” said Schuldt, who had rounds of 71 and 69 on the par-66 course.
“I had a couple errant shots, but overall I felt like I played very well and I’m happy with it.
“I finally made one birdie out of these two days. I made a nice long birdie putt on No. 7. I would have liked a couple more birdies to drop, but it’s all right. I’ll take my pars.”
Schuldt enjoyed being pushed a bit by Heal.
“I love playing with Ruth,” Schuldt said. “She’s a great competitor. I can learn from her. She’s been out here a long time.”
Schuldt plans to continue playing in the Lincoln Highway during her college years.
“I love this tournament. I hope to keep playing in it,” she said.
Team-wise, Heal and Kishwaukee again ran away with things. Kishwaukee had a winning total of +72. Rock River of Rock Falls was second at +52. Dixon’s Timber Creek took third place at +42 and Emerald HIll was fourth in the nine-team field with a score of +38.
Mandy Curia of Dixon, a Newman High School graduate and recent Iowa State University grad, won the first flight (+17) as a member of Dixon’s Timber Creek team.
“It was good to redeem myself. I wasn’t too happy with Friday’s score,” said Curia, a former LHT runner-up who went from +4 Friday to +13 Saturday. “I wanted to do better today.
“Putts that I was missing Friday were falling today, and I played smarter on my approach shots. Plus, I got lucky a few times. I wanted to help my team as much as possible. I didn’t really do that Friday, so it was good to bring in a good score today.”
Deena Thatcher of Rock Falls, a member of the runner-up Rock River team, was also the runner-up to Curia with a +15 in the first flight after winning a playoff.
“I played a lot better today than I did yesterday,” Thatcher said. “I think I was more relaxed. Yesterday I got to play with Ruth and Ember. It was great to play with them, but that’s a different level of competition.
“I was on the green a lot more today. This is one of my better showings in the tournament. This is the 15th year that I’ve played. I’m usually +10, 11, 12, so I’m happy with +15. I’m ecstatic for my team. We have a bunch of great ladies. I wouldn’t play anywhere else.”
Also among the highlights of the tournament was the hole-in-one by Oregon’s Kathi Tremble on Friday. Tremble used a 5-wood to ace the 158-yard No. 9 hole.
“It was my first hole-in-one,” Tremble said. “It was pretty exciting. It was well hit. I knew it was going on the green. I actually turned away. My husband, who was caddying for me, and the rest of the group said ‘It’s going in.’ I didn’t believe it until I looked in the hole.
“It was the thrill of a lifetime. You never think it’s going to happen. And, it was neat to have it happen at the Lincoln Highway with all my friends. I’ve played in the tournament for 22 years, so it was great to have that happen there.”
Oregon’s Marilyn Geiken won the second flight and was third overall with a +18. Rock River’s Nancy Kreeger was second to Geiken in the second flight with a +17.
Top teams
Kishwaukee +72
Rock River +52
Timber Creek +42
Leaderboard
Ember Schuldt (Emerald Hill) +30
Ruth Heal (Kishwaukee) +22
Marilyn Geiken (Oregon) +18
