LEMONT, Ill. – The first tournaments of the Illinois Junior Golf Association 2016 season came to a close after weather shorted events concluded Sunday at White Pines Golf Club in Bensenville, Ill. The Players Challenge #1 was shortened to a 27-hole event for the Boys Division, while the Girls Division played only 18 holes. For the YDP Season Opener, all players played 27 holes.
Players Challenge #1 @ White Pines GC
In the Boys Division, Kevin Paek (2017) of Glenview, Ill., took home is first win of the 2016 IJGA season after carding a 1-over-par 105 tournament total. One shot back was Garrett Tighe (2019) of Algonquin, Ill., who finished at 2-over-par 106. Rounding out the top 5 were Patrick Akaniroj (2018) of Willow Springs, Ill., Michael Cascino (2017) of Palos Park, Ill., and Jackson Bussell (2019) of Lincolnshire, Ill., who each carded a 6-over-par 110 tournament total.
In the Girls Division, Caroline Smith (2020) of Inverness, Ill., carded a 3-over-par 73 to take champions honors. Sophia Lau (2018) of Glenview, Ill., finished in second at a 7-over-par 77. Rounding out the top 3 were Maddie Hurt (2017) of Elmhurst, Ill., and Abigail Kaestle (2019) of Winnetka, Ill., who each carded an 8-over-par 78 total.
YDP Season Opener @ White Pines GC
In the Boys 12-13 Division, Sean Curran (2021) of New Lenox, Ill., took top honors after a sudden-death playoff against Clint Bailes (2021) of Lake Forest, Ill. The two boys had each carded a 8-over-par tournament total of 116 to force the playoff, which Curran won on the first hole with a par.
In the Boys 10-11 Division, Ethan Gao (2023) of South Barrington, Ill., carded a tournament total of 1-over-par 112 to take top honors. Coming in runner-up was Cooper Watt (2023) of Rockford, Ill., who carded a tournament total of 13-over-par 124.
In the Girls 12-13 Division, Emily Duan (2022) of Buffalo Grove, Ill., fired a final round of 2-under-par 72 to move her tournament total to 1-over-par 112, giving her a commanding victory. Catherine Reisinger (2021) of Park Ridge, Ill., carded a tournament total of 18-over-par to take second.
In the Girls 10-11 Division, Lexi Schulman (2023) of Vernon Hills, Ill., finished the tournament at 15-over-par 126 to take home champion honors. Coming in runner-up was Ella Greenberg (2023) of Rockford, Ill., with a tournament total of 18-over-par 129.