ELGIN, Ill. – The Illinois Junior Golf Association Playing Member Division Season concluded Monday with the Player of the Year Championship at the Highlands of Elgin. Four tournament champions were named. In the Senior Boys Division, James Trachsel (2019) of Lake Forest, Ill., earned champion honors, while Pierce Grieve (2021) of Lake Froest, Ill., was named champion in the Junior Boys Division. In the Senior Girls Division, Adrienne Rohwedder (2019) of Prospect Heights, Ill., earned the top spot on the leaderboard and in the Junior Girls Division, Maria Perakis (2021) of Glenview, Ill., earned champion honors.
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 71 junior golfers who competed today 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 6,785 yards, while the Girls Divisions played from 5,626 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, Trachsel carded back-to-back rounds of 1-under-par 71, which gave him a tournament total of 2-under-par 142. During the course of the tournament, Trachsel carded seven birdies. This was his first appearance at the Player of the Year Championship.
Coming in runner-up was Jacob Fritz (2020) of Naperville, Ill., who carded a 1-over-par 145 total. In third place was Maxwell Rockrohr (2020) of Willow Springs, Ill., who finished the tournament with a 3-over-par 147 total. In fourth place was Mason Meadows (2018) of St. Charles, Ill., who carded a 4-over-par 148 total. Rounding out the top five was Matthew James (2019) of Orland Park, Ill., who finished the tournament with a 5-over-par 149 total.
In the Junior Boys Division, Grieve carded an opening round of 3-over-par 75, followed by an even-par 72, giving him a tournament total of 3-over-par 147. His final round included four birdies. This was Grieve’s second appearance at the PM POY Championship at the Highlands of Elgin.
In second place were Stefan Ink (2023) of St. Charles, Ill., and Jake Wiktor (2021) of River Forest, Ill., who each finished the tournament with a 4-over-par 148. Rounding out the top five were Samuel Dykema (2023) of West Chicago, Ill., and Ian Bouchard (2021) of Barrington, Ill., who each carded an 8-over-par 152 tournament total.
In the Senior Girls Division, Rohwedder carded rounds of 2-over-par 74 and even-par 72 to give her a 2-over-par 146 tournament total. Her final round included three birdies.
Coming in runner-up was Emma Hayes (2019) of St. Charles, Ill., who carded a 15-over-par 159 tournament total. Rounding out the top three was Mandi Granato (2018) of Plainfield, Ill., who carded a 24-over-par 168 total.
In the Junior Girls Division, Perakis carded a 13-over-par 157 tournament total. Her final round included two birdies. This was her second PM Player of the Year Championship at the Highlands of Elgin appearance.
One stroke back was Audrey Tir (2021) of Winnetka, Ill., who carded a 14-over-par 158 tournament total. Rounding out the top three was Lizzie Anderson (2022) of Lockport, Ill., who finished the tournament with at 19-over-par 163 total.
The Player of the Year Championship concludes the IJGA Playing Member Division’s Regular Season. Congratulations to all the players on their accomplishments this year and we can’t wait for the 2019 season!
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