HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. – The Illinois Junior Golf Association’s Players Challenge #4 at Highland Park concluded after weather shorted the event to 18 holes. Bennett Cotton (2019) of Winnetka, Ill., took champion honors in the Boys Division. A playoff determined the champion in the Girls Division, with Grace Curran (2019) of New Lenox, Ill., defeating Kelly Kavanagh (2020) of Arlington Heights, Ill.
The Players Challenge #4 at Highland Park was a 36-hole, stroke play competition that could also serve as a local Junior PGA Qualifier for the Boys Division. Because of the weather and course conditions the field only played 9 holes each day of the competition. The field featured 110 junior golfers.
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.
Cotton carded a 5-under-par 67 two-day total to take top honors and to advance to the Jr PGA Championship. Also advancing were Tyler Anderson (2017) of Mundelein, Ill., who carded a 3-under-par 69 tournament total and Bradley Goldstein (2019) of Highland Park, Ill., who finished the event with a 2-under-par 70 total.
Coming in runner-up overall was Sean Curran (2021) of New Lenox, Ill., who carded a 4-under-par 68 tournament total. In third was Anderson, and in fourth was Goldstein. Rounding out the top five were Scott Spyra (2019) of Spring Grove, Ill., Mark Noonan (2019) of Vernon Hills, Ill., and Luke Armbrust (2018) of Wheaton, Ill., who each carded a 1-under-par 71 total.
In the Girls Division, G. Curran and Kavanagh carded a 3-over-par 75 forcing a playoff which was ultimately won by G. Curran. Coming in third was Audrey Tir (2021) of Winnetka, Ill., with a tournament total of 6-over-par 78.
