ITASCA, Ill. – The cut was made at the Illinois Junior Golf Association’s Chick Evans Jr Am Championship on Tuesday following the second round. The individuals advancing to the match play rounds of the event in the Boys Division carded a two-day total of 8-over-par or better. In the Girls Division, to make the cut a player must have carded a 16-over-par or better.
This is the 36th Annual Chick Evans Jr Am Championship features 195 junior golfers from throughout the state of Illinois ages 12 to 18. This event is a 36-hole, stroke play event where players are attempting to qualify for the match play rounds. The Boys Division will be cut to the low 32 boys for up to five rounds of match play, while the Girls Division will be cut to the low 16 for up to four rounds of match play. The Boys Division is playing the par 72 Itasca CC from 6,467 yards, while the Girls Division played the course from 5,518.
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 Boys Division, Paul DiFranco III (2016) of Park Ridge, Ill., held his first round lead taking a commanding lead to earn the top seat entering the match play rounds. DiFranco, who finished the two rounds of stroke play with a tournament total of 6-under-par 138, carded an eagle and four birdies during the second round.
A playoff between the nine players T32 was conducted and lasted two holes. David Lipan (2016) of Aurora, Ill., defeated Marcus Smith (2020) of Rockford, Ill., Mulbe Dillard (2017) of Chicago, Ill., and Matthew Tamar (2017) of Belvidere, Ill., on the second play-off hole to earn the last qualifying spot for match play.
In the Girls Division, Brianne Bolden (2019) of Mokena, Ill., Margaret Hickey (2017) of Glencoe, Ill., and Caroline Smith (2020) of Inverness, Ill., are co-leaders heading into the match play rounds after carding two-day totals over 5-over-par 149.
Special Note: Sarah Arnold (2019) of St. Charles, Ill., carded a hole-in-one on the 146 yard, par-3 No. 10 to start her round.
The first round of match play will begin at 7am at Itasca Country Club in Itasca, Ill.
Also qualifying for match play in the Boys Division are:
T2 | Raymond Sullivan 2018, Lemont, IL | +1 | 145 |
T2 | Nicholas Huggins 2017, Aurora, IL | +1 | 145 |
T4 | Charlie Nikitas 2017, Glenview, IL | +2 | 146 |
T4 | Ricky Leme 2016, Lake Villa, IL | +2 | 146 |
T4 | Mac McClear 2019, Hinsdale, IL | +2 | 146 |
T4 | Evan Myers 2019, Northbrook, IL | +2 | 146 |
T8 | Jake Wright 2016, Naperville, IL | +3 | 147 |
T8 | Devin Johnson 2017, Geneva, IL | +3 | 147 |
T8 | Christian Early 2016, Hinsdale, IL | +3 | 147 |
T11 | Clayton Miller 2017, Arcola, IL | +4 | 148 |
T11 | Jack Vercautren 2018, Naperville, IL | +4 | 148 |
T11 | Brian Joseph 2020, Wilmette, IL | +4 | 148 |
T11 | Bradley Goldstein 2019, Highland Park, IL | +4 | 148 |
T11 | Charlie Van Cleave 2017, Northbrook, IL | +4 | 148 |
T11 | Ethan Schmitt 2016, Winnetka, IL | +4 | 148 |
17 | Daniel Anfield 2017, Channahon, IL | +5 | 149 |
T18 | Brian Favia 2018, Mundelein, IL | +6 | 150 |
T18 | Cameron Karney 2018, Crystal Lake, IL | +6 | 150 |
T18 | William Marshall 2019, Elburn, IL | +6 | 150 |
T18 | Scott Frevert 2018, Lake Bluff, IL | +6 | 150 |
T18 | Nick Tenuta 2017, Mt. Prospect, IL | +6 | 150 |
T18 | Jack McGuire 2017, Park Ridge, IL | +6 | 150 |
T18 | Jackson Castellon 2018, Clarendon Hills, IL | +6 | 150 |
T18 | Sam Stapleton 2018, Clarendon Hills, IL | +6 | 150 |
T18 | Mitchell Kenston 2018, Libertyville, IL | +6 | 150 |
T27 | Connor Polender 2018, Lake Bluff, IL | +7 | 151 |
T27 | Jason Folker 2017, Lake Forest, IL | +7 | 151 |
T27 | Robert Garmoe 2017, Arlington Heights, IL | +7 | 151 |
T27 | Payton Kim 2016, Palatine, IL | +7 | 151 |
T27 | Connor Hansen 2016, Winnetka, IL | +7 | 151 |
32 | David Lipan 2016, Aurora, IL | +8 | 152 |
Also qualifying for match play in the Girls Division are:
T4 | Stephanie Mroz 2018, Wood Dale, IL | +6 | 150 |
T4 | Amy Kucera 2017, Riverside, IL | +6 | 150 |
6 | Grace Curran 2019, New Lenox, IL | +10 | 154 |
7 | Lauren Nay 2018, Naperville, IL | +11 | 155 |
T8 | Elyse Emerzian 2018, Deerfield, IL | +13 | 157 |
T8 | Haeri Lee 2018, Buffalo Grove, IL | +13 | 157 |
T10 | Josie Kurosky 2016, Elgin, IL | +14 | 158 |
T10 | Hanna Tanaka 2019, Glenview, IL | +14 | 158 |
T10 | Rosemarie Bundy 2017, West Chicago, IL | +14 | 158 |
T13 | Hadley Moritz 2018, Wheaton, IL | +15 | 159 |
T13 | Molly Lyne 2020, Cary, IL | +15 | 159 |
T13 | Jasmine Yi 2018, Arlington Heights, IL | +15 | 159 |
16 | Priya Desai 2017, Wheaton, IL | +16 | 160 |