ELGIN, Ill. – The Illinois Junior Golf Association’s 2019 Playing Member Division season came to a close Monday with the Player of the Year Championship. Dori Lee (2022) of Buffalo Grove, Ill., Katherine Lemke (2021) of Geneva, Ill., Samuel Dykema (2023) of West Chicago, Ill., and Catie Nekola (2022) of St. Charles, Ill., were each named champion in their respective divisions.

The IJGA PM Player of the Year Championship is a one-day, 36-hole stroke play competition that is contested at the Highlands of Elgin Golf Course in Elgin, Ill. There were 84 junior golfers who competed after earning their spots in the field through their rankings in the Player of the Year points race. The Boys Divisions played the par 72 course from 6,783 yards, while the Girls Divisions played from 5,630 yards.

The Illinois Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing playing opportunities for its members ages 8-18, conducting educational clinics and events, and serving as a junior golf informational clearinghouse.

In the Senior Boys Division, Lee carded a 1-under-par 143 to finish two shots ahead. His first round included five birdies and his final round included four birdies. This was Lee’s first appearance at the Playing Member Division Player of the Year Championship.

Coming in runner-up in the Senior Boys Division was Mark Noonan (2019) of Vernon Hills, Ill., who finished with a tournament total of 1-over-par 145. Finishing in third was Will Caronchi (2022) of Willow Springs, Ill., who carded a 4-over-par 148. Rounding out the top five were Billy Nagel (2020) of Orland Park, Ill., Ryan Higgins (2020) of Palatine, Ill., and Sunnihith Sivarathri (2020) of Elk Grove Village, Ill., who each finished the tournament with a 5-over-par 149 tournament total.

Winning the Senior Boys Division season-long points race was Nagel who earned 9,725.83 points over 11 events.

In the Senior Girls Division, Lemke earned top honors after finishing the tournament with a 6-over-par 160 tournament total. This was her first appearance at the PM Player of the Year Championship. Lemke’s final-round included two birdies and a bogey-free front nine.

In second place in the Senior Girls Division was Audrey Tir (2021) of Winnetka, Ill., who carded a 9-over-par 153 total. In third place was Olivia Siebert (2021) of Glencoe, Ill., who finished the tournament with a 18-over-par tournament total.

Lemke also finished atop the season-long points race leaderboard in the Senior Girls Division, earning 3,475 points over seven point-awarding events.

In the Junior Boys Division, Dykema defeated Cooper Watt (2023) of Rockford, Ill., in a sudden death playoff after both boys finished the tournament with an even-par 144 total. Dykema carded a 3-under-par 69 during the final round, which included four birdies.

Coming in third was Brody McCarthy (2022) of Homer Glen, Ill., who finished the tournament with a 5-over-par 149 total. Rounding out the top five, with a 9-over-par 153 total, were Myles Lahart (2022) of Park Ridge, Ill., and Jason Gordon (2023) of Northbrook, Ill.

The Junior Boys Division season-long points race winner was Dykema with 16,021.67 points won over 11 events.

In the Junior Girls Division, Nekola captured her first PM Player of the Year Championship victory with an 8-over-par 152 total. Her final round included three birdies.

Coming in runner-up was Sarah Thornton (2023) of Hinsdale, Ill., who carded a 10-over-par 154. Rounding out the top three was Reese Clark (2022) of Geneva, Ill., who finished the tournament with a 14-over-par 158 total.

The winner of the season-long points race in the Junior Girls Division was Thornton, earning 6,812.50 points over 22 events.

The Player of the Year Championship concludes the Playing Member Division’s regular season. Congratulations to all the players on their accomplishments this year and we can’t wait for the 2020 season!