ITASCA, Ill. – The Illinois Junior Golf Association’s 39th Chick Evans Junior Amateur Championship began Monday at Itasca Country Club. Currently holding the top spot on the leaderboard in the Boys Division is Danny Fisher (2019) of Lake Forest, Ill., who carded a 3-under-par 69 during the first round. In the Girls Division, Mara Janess (2022) of Barrington, Ill., sits atop the leaderboard after also finishing the first round with a 3-under-par 69.
The Chick Evans Junior Amateur (CEJA) is the highest level of IJGA competition and is intended to highlight the best players in the state while giving players the opportunity to earn national recognition. This championship is open to boys and girls ages 12-18 who have earned exempt status or have qualified at one of the six (6) local qualifiers. The field will play 36 holes of Stroke Play before a cut is made for Match Play. The low 32 boys and 16 girls will advance to Match Play.
Fisher carded six birdies during the opening round, three of which came on Nos. 7, 8, and 9. He played the first nine at 5-under-par 31. Fisher, who will be heading to Miami University in the fall, is playing in his fourth CEJA, his best finish came in 2018 when he finished T3.
Currently tied for second, with a 2-under-par 70, are Braydon Roy (2020) of Northbrook, Ill., and Sam Bartolone (2021) of Elmhurst, Ill. Rounding out the top five going into the second round all sitting at even-par 72, are Robert Cox (2020) of Oak Brook, Ill., John Wild (2022) of Glen Ellyn, Ill., Thomas Baker (2020) of Rockford, Ill., Charles Haggerty (2021) of Lake Forest, Ill., and Dori Lee (2022) of Buffalo Grove, Ill.
In the Girls Division, Janess’ first round included two birdies and an eagle. The eagle came on the par 5, No. 9. This is Janess’s second appearance at CEJA, her first appearance was in 2018.
Currently in second are Alaina Bowie (2020) of Mahomet, Ill., and Emma Carpenter (2019) of Dekalb, Ill., who finished the first round with a 2-under-par 70. In fourth entering the second round are Ali Schrock (2019) of Pontiac, Ill., and Lexi Schulman (2023) of Vernon Hills, Ill., who each carded a 1-under-par 71.
The second round will begin Tuesday, July 23, at 7:30 AM CST off Nos. 1 and 10 at Itasca Country Club.
