ROMEOVILLE, ILL. – The Mid-American Junior Golf Tour’s Autumn Open came to a close Sunday afternoon under blue skies and perfect conditions. Kyle Irlbacker (2016) of Cary, Ill., and Peneope Tir (2019) of Winnetka, Ill., each captured their first MAJGT medalist honors.
The MAJGT Autumn Open is a 36-hole stroke play competition featuring 84 Midwest junior golfers representing Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Wisconsin. The Boys Division played the second round on the par-72 Mistwood Golf Club from 6,417 yards and the Girls Division from 5,666 yards.
“We were thrilled to host one of our final events of the 2015 at Mistwood Golf Club,” said director of Marketing, Gracen Kostelecky. “The top notch facility combined with the elite field made for a fun and exciting close to the Autumn Open.”
It took more than the regulation 36 holes for Irlbacker to capture the title. After the second round came to a close, there was a five way tie atop the leaderboard for first place. All five golfer headed to the first tee for a sudden death playoff, competing for first and second place. Irlbacker made a routine birdie on the second playoff hole to capture the Autumn Open. It was down to Kevin Nelson (2017) of Glen Ellyn, Ill. and Patrick Akaniroj (2018) of Willow Springs, Ill., competing for second place. Nelson drained a 30 foot birdie putt on the third hole to put the pressure on Akaniroj, who confidentially tapped in his four foot putt for birdie and force another playoff hole. Nelson made another birdie on the fourth hole, and that was good enough to earn him the runner-up trophy.
In the Girls Division, Tir had a near flawless second round, making 15 pars and one birdie. After persevering through difficult conditions on the first day, she improved her score by nine strokes and captured the title by three over Speedy Kent (2018) of Mequon, Wisc. Kent carded an impressive 3-over-par 75 during the second round to secure her runner-up position.
The MAJGT is designed for exceptionally talented junior golfers throughout the Midwest ages 12-18 and is nationally recognized by the Junior Golf Scoreboard and American Junior Golf Association with all of its events providing national exposure.
The final stop for the MAJGT is at Knollwood Club for the Fall Junior Invitational.
