Niemiec, Edwards carry Saints
The Rae and Jen Show once again ruled for the St. Charles East girls golf team on Thursday afternoon.
Rachael Edwards birdied all three par-5s at Pottawatomie Golf Course in firing a 39, and Jenny Niemiec one-upped her teammate with a 38 to lead the Saints past crosstown rival St. Charles North 172-180 in Upstate Eight Conference action.
The Saints extended their season-opening dual-match winning streak to 12 in running the league table (6-0); St. Charles North is 6-3, 4-2.
"We're best friends," Edwards, the Saints' four-year standout, said of her relationship with Niemiec. "It's kind of weird, but we usually end up shooting within one or two (shots) of each other."
Niemiec, the Saints' junior returning state qualifier, had a pair of birdies, rendering the course defenseless with her accurate and lengthy drives.
"My driver? That's been the good part of my game," Niemiec said. "Individually we're not focusing on anything but the team."
The Saints' tag team effort at the top was sorely needed to counteract the individual brilliance of St. Charles North's top-gun Marin Beagley.
The North Stars' junior was 3-under-par after four holes and made critical par saves down the stretch to earn medalist honors with a career-low-tying round of 2-under-par 35.
"I've shot 35 before, but never here," Beagley said. "My short game was really on today. I made the putts that normally would give me trouble."
"Marin is starting to play really well," St. Charles North coach Chris Patrick said. "She is starting to believe in herself, and you're seeing more confidence in her every time out."
Miranda Fencl carded a 46 in the lead group, meaning the Saints held a 4-stroke lead, 77-81, after the opening foursome finished play.
The North Stars' KK Barr, a sophomore transfer from Seattle, then considerably tightened the overall score when she posted a 44 from the third slot.
The Saints' Nicole Rae and Rebecca Norris fired a 47 and 48, respectively, to give St. Charles East its final total.
The Saints' unblemished regular season was complete when the North Stars' Marissa Fencl came in with a 55 for the North Stars' fourth counting score.
"If you can get two kids to go low, it really helps," St. Charles East coach Rod Osborne said. "(Edwards and Niemiec) didn't finish as well as they would have liked."
Edwards was 2-under after three holes, and Niemiec climbed back to even after a birdie on the sixth hole.
They both had eagle attempts on the closing hole, only to settle for matching birdies.