SYCAMORE — Thursday was not only the regular season finale for the Rochelle Township High School golf team, but a preview of what could be coming this week for Lady Hub senior Megan Thiravong as she attempts to defend her Interstate 8 Conference Girls Championship.

Thiravong led all varsity players in scoring on Thursday, carding 38 at Sycamore Golf Course and finishing the regular season tied for first in the boys conference standings with 74 points. The Spartans held on for the victory, however, defeating Rochelle 171-180 and dropping the Hubs to 6-6 overall and 2-5 in the conference. Sophomore Griffin Ohlinger shot 44 for Rochelle, while senior Reese Kirk added 47 in the match against the Spartans.

“I thought Griffin and Megan both played really well,” head coach Glen Mehrings said. “I know Griffin and Reese can both play well enough to advance beyond the regional tournament. They’ve each made a lot of progress over the last few weeks. We had a lot of close conference matches this season, so I don’t think the 2-5 record reflects how well we’ve played.”

Thiravong will return to Sycamore Golf Course on Tuesday in order to defend the conference championship she won in Rochelle during the 2019 season. It was the first conference title of her illustrious career, and given the similarities between the two courses, Mehrings said he thinks Thiravong has a great chance to end the day on top and become a repeat champion.

“The pace of the greens at Sycamore are nice and fair,” Mehrings said. “They aren’t too slick and they aren’t too slow. I know she can putt well there and she putted well there during the match on Thursday. She hit her driver well, and Sycamore’s course rewards players who hit their drivers well. If she can shoot a good number, I know she can defend her title.”