Itasca, Ill. – Andrew Huber (2016) of Winnetka, IL won the 35th Boys Chick Evans Junior Amateur Match Play Championship at Itasca Country Club defeating Kyle Slattery (2015) of Rockford, IL 1 UP.
Andrew made match play by shooting rounds of 70-68 (138) to earn the #2 seed. In the Round of 32, Andrew defeated Tommy Dunsire (2018) of Naperville, IL 3&2. Playing Gehrig Hollatz (2015) of Lockport, IL in the Round of 16, Andrew cruised to a 6&5 victory. In the Quarter-Finals, Andrew was up against John Carlson (2016) of Inverness, IL. Andrew was able to escape with a 1 UP victory and did so again in his Semi-Finals match against Trent Wallace (2015) of Joliet, IL.
Both Andrew and Kyle made pars on the 1st and 2nd holes before Andrew dropped a 20 footer for birdie on #3 to grab a 1 UP lead. On the par three 4th, Kyle answered with a 12 footer for birdie to get the match back to AS. Playing the monstrous par five 5th hole (590 yards), Kyle made a 10 foot downhill slider birdie to go 1 UP. After Andrew was unable to get up and down for par on the 6th hole, Kyle was 2 UP. On the par five 9th, Andrew hit the green in two and just missed his eagle putt. After Kyle was unable to convert his ten footer for birdie, Kyle would take a 1 UP lead heading into the back nine.
On the par three 10th hole, Andrew short sided himself under a tree while Kyle hit the green and comfortably two putted to get his lead back to 2 UP. Andrew stuck his approach shot on the 11th hole and converted his birdie putt to get back to 1 DOWN. Both players made par on the 12th hole and exchanged birdies on the 13th and 14th holes and Andrew remained 1 DOWN with four holes to play. On the 15th hole, Kyle came up short with his approach to the green and was unable to get up and down and the match was AS. Kyle hit his drive on the par five 16thhole out of bounds while Andrew safely hit the green in two. After Kyle failed to hole out his greenside bunker shot for par, the hole was conceded and Andrew took the lead for the first time in the match. Both players on the par three 17th missed the green but both were able to get up and down out of the bunker. On the 18th hole, Kyle hit the green while Andrew missed the green. Andrew chipped up to three feet and after Kyle was unable to convert his birdie putt, Andrew tapped in for the 1 UP victory.
Kate Lillie (2017) of St. Charles, IL came out victorious in the Girls Chick Evans Junior Amateur Match Play. Kate defeated Maggie Sloan (2016) of Lansing, IL 4&3 in the Championship Match.
Kate made match play shooting rounds of 78-78 (156) to earn the #9 seed. In the Round of 16, Kate beat Blake Betke (2015) of Spring Grove, IL 4&3. In the Quarter-Finals, Kate took down the #1 seed Margaret Hickey (2017) of Glencoe, IL 3&2. In the Semi-Finals, Kate was matched up against the #5 seed Josie Kurosky (2016) of Eglin, IL closing out the match on the 17th hole 3&1 to advance to the Championship Match.
In the Championship Match, Kate jumped out to the early lead after hitting her drive into a divot but got up and down short of the green for par to take a 1 UP lead after the first. On the 4th hole, Maggie dropped a 25 footer for birdie to get the match back to AS. Kate proceeded to win the 5th hole with a par to go back 1 UP. On the 8th hole, Kate hit her approach shot to within inches of the hole for birdie while Maggie was unable to convert her 30 foot birdie putt which put Kate 2 UP. Maggie dropped a 15 footer on the 10th hole to get back to 1 DOWN. On the 12th hole, Kate hit her approach shot to the green just short in the rough and was faced with a tough third shot while Maggie was safely on the green for birdie. Kate hit a beautiful lofting shot that found the bottom of the cup for a birdie and after Maggie failed to convert her 12 foot birdie putt, Kate was 2 UP with six holes to play. On the 14th hole, Kate flew her approach just over the green into the fringe and was left with a 25 footer and Maggie was inside 10 feet for birdie. Kate knocked her birdie putt in and after Maggie was unable to make her birdie putt, Kate was 3 UP with 4 to play. On the 15th hole, Maggie’s approach shot found the greenside bunker and was left with a very delicate shot and she was unable to get up and down. Kate’s second shot safely found the center of the green and was able to two putt for the win.
Kate will receive eight (8) AJGA PBE Stars for her victory and Maggie will receive four (4) AJGA PBE Stars.
In the Boys Division, the #1 seed Kyle Slattery (2015) of Rockford, IL and the #2 seed Andrew Huber (2016) of Winnetka, IL will face off in the Championship Match tomorrow morning at 7:30 AM.
