Through four varsity seasons, senior Tali Schultz has enjoyed personal and team success with the Riverside Brookfield High School girls golf program.
“I’m really proud of us and how far we’ve come,” she said. “We’ve all improved since our freshman years. We’ve all grown up and I’ve seen people grow and change as they’ve played a sport.”
On Monday, the Bulldogs added another outright Upstate Eight Conference title by winning the UEC Meet at St. Andrews Golf Club in West Chicago after going 5-0 in conference duals.
Senior Lucia Vazzana (2nd place, 13-over-par 84), sophomores Harper Jesswein (4th on scorecard tiebreaker, 91) and Fiona Lombardi (5th, 91) and Schultz (7th on scorecard tiebreaker, 92) were top-10 individual finishes for the Bulldogs (359), who won by 11 strokes over Glenbard South (370).
Other RBHS golfers were junior Alexis Busse (tied for 17th, 106), senior Jessica Kot (tied for 28th, 118), junior Nikki Ritacca (tied for 32nd, 120) and freshman Olivia Koralik (39th, 130).
The Bulldogs also won the UEC in their 2024 conference debut for the program’s first conference title, but they graduated Schultz’s older sister Taryn, who shot a counting 93 at the UEC Meet. The Bulldogs’ 362 at St. Andrews won last year’s title by two strokes over U-46.
“I think [repeating] was a very big goal for the team just because of how well we did last season,” Schultz said. “We wanted to carry that into this season and by losing [Taryn], we were able to re-adjust and win conference again.”
Riverside-Brookfield’s Fiona Lombardi tees off during the Bulldogs match against Hinsdale South at Carriage Greens Country Club Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025 in Darien, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
RBHS’s Harper Jesswein waits for her turn to putt during the Bulldogs match against Hinsdale South at Carriage Greens Country Club, Sept. 4, 2025 in Darien. (Steve Johnston) 
RBHS’s Harper Jesswein tees off during the Bulldogs match against Hinsdale South at Carriage Greens Country Club Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025 in Darien. (Steve Johnston) 
RBHS’s Lucia Vazzana putts during the Bulldogs match against Hinsdale South at Carriage Greens Country Club Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025 in Darien. (Steve Johnston)
The Bulldogs now seek a new feeling – advancing to sectionals as a team for the first time. They’ll need a top-three finish at the Class 2A Sandburg Regional Sept. 30 at Silver Lake’s north course to reach the Lockport Sectional Oct. 6 at Broken Arrow.
Vazzana has gone to sectionals three times and Schultz once but as individual qualifiers.
“To repeat [in the UEC is] really great. I’m really proud of our team especially because even if we all didn’t play super well, we all played good enough to help each other as a team,” she said. “I think my teammates have less faith in themselves than I have in them. I’ve been really trying to encourage them, especially when they’re down. They have the opportunity to play really well if they put their mind to it.”
On Monday, Vazzana finished three strokes behind South Elgin senior Autumn Burnett after the two have been the UEC frontrunners all season. Vazzana has had two 2-over-par scores at different courses and was low scorer in three UEC duals.
“There’s always room for improvement, especially me. I’m always hard on myself that way,” Vazzana said. “I think I really just need to work at my mental game still.”
The Bulldogs again should have multiple All-UEC players based on scores at conference duals and the UEC Meet. In 2024, Vazzana (No. 2), Schultz (No. 8) and Jesswein (tied for 10th) were honored for being among the top 10 averages.
“Last year was new and something we’d never experienced before. It’s definitely different this year with more of an expectation to compete and then performing and getting it done,” said RBHS coach Doug Schultz, who is not related to the Schultz sisters.
“It was great seeing [our players] taking the jump forward of leadership by our seniors and then having (Jesswein and Lombardi) take it another step forward to have their scores go down.”
Jesswein has become among the top UEC golfers and shot a 5-over 38 at Flagg Creek. Often paired with Vazzana in match foursomes, Jesswein had the team’s low score in two UEC duals.
“I feel more pressure to do better, I’m a sophomore now,” Jesswein said. “I think it’s a lot more pressure because you’re higher up.”
Lombardi, who shot a personal-best 39 at Flagg Creek, improved significantly from her 2024 UEC Meet. She did not play at the 2024 regional, where teams enter six golfers.
“I see a lot of differences in my game, how consistent I am with it,” Lombardi said. “I saw the opportunity [to contribute more]. I think last year one of my biggest problems was putting. I think I’ve improved pretty well with that and making my drives more consistent and straight.”
Busse also has been a counting score in UEC duals.
“Having five reliable scores throughout the season was huge for us,” coach Schultz said.
The Bulldogs’ biggest regional challengers will be Lyons Township, Sandburg and Nazareth, a 1A state team qualifier the past two seasons. LTHS plays its West Suburban Conference Meet Wednesday at Village Greens.
The 2022 RBHS team with Vazzana and Schultz missed advancing for third place on a fifth-score tiebreaker.
“I’d love to see that qualification because we haven’t qualified a team to sectionals in our history,” coach Schultz said. “It would be good to have that, especially with this group and these seniors.”
In boys golf, RBHS also seeks a team title repeat at Wednesday’s UEC Meet at St. Andrews after going 5-0 in duals. The LTHS boys compete at the WSC Silver Division Meet at Wednesday at Prairie Bluff following a 4-2 dual record.
The Bulldogs and Lions then seek to advance to the 3A Payton Sectional, Oct. 6. The Bulldogs compete at the Glenbrook North Regional at Heritage Oaks, Oct. 1.
