Lady Wildcats win South Seven championship

CENTRALIA -- Led by a freshman, the Marion High School girls golf team claimed the South Seven Conference championship at Greenview Golf Club on Monday.
Marion's total of 356 easily beat runner-up Belleville Althoff (423), Centralia (428) and Carbondale (468).
Baylee Kelley, a ninth-grader, was the conference medalist with an 83 and all five of her teammates joined her in the all-conference top 10 list.
It was Marion's first conference championship in girls golf since 2009.
"The girls played really well," said Marion coach JoAnna Galloway. "But I believe we can score even better at regionals next week. They have the talent to place."
Althoff's Annie Pusa was second individually behind Kelley at 89, then Marion took the next three spots.
Ava Lewis was third at 90, followed by Sarah Capel at 91 and Olivia Gray at 92.
Kelsey Sinks was seventh with a 93 and Chloe Thomas placed 10th with a 97.
The other all-conference medals went to Centralia's Kallie Dodd (92), Althoff's Jil Pye (94) and Carbondale's Annie Shin (96).
Kelley and Lewis both carded 44 on their first nine holes, then Kelley brought home the individual title with a strong 39 after the turn. The next-best score on Greenview's back nine by anyone in the tournament was Gray at 42.
"I'm really proud of our freshman," Galloway said. "She really stepped up and led the team to the title."
Marion finishes the regular season at Pine Lakes on Wednesday, then plays in the Collinsville 2A Regional on Oct. 3 at Arlington Greens in Granite City.