DUNDEE, Ill. – The Illinois Junior Golf Association’s Youth Development Program regular season came to a close this week with the Player of the Year Championship. Four tournament champions and four points race leaders were determined with the conclusion of play.
The YPD Player of the Year Championship was a 36-hole, Stroke Play event contested Monday – Tuesday, August 12-13, at Randall Oaks Golf Course. There were 63 players who earned their spot in the field based on their rankings in the Player of the Year points race. The Boys 12-13 Division played the par 71 course from 5,838 yards, while the Girls 12-13 and Boys 10-11 Division played the course from 5,046 yards. The Girls 10-11 Division played the course from 4,401 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.
The Boys 12-13 Division champion was Charlie Pettrone (2024) of Prairie Grove, Ill., with a tournament total of 6-over-par 148. Pettrone carded a 2-under-par 33 on the back nine during the final round. His 2019 season included three wins, the YDP Season Opener @ Countryside, Summer Jr Elite Event #1 @ Buffalo Grove and the YDP 18 Hole Event #2 @ Bonnie Dundee. Pettrone was also the points race leader for the Boys 12-13 Division.
Coming in runner-up was Salil Khanduja (2024) of Naperville, Ill., with a 9-over-par 151 total. Coming in third with a 10-over-par 152 was Nathan Kwiatkowski (2024) of Homer Glen, Ill. In fourth place was Luke Colton (2026) of Wheaton, Ill., with a tournament total of 12-over-154. Rounding out the top five in the Boys 12-13 Division was John Creamean (2024) Winnetka, Ill., who carded a 16-over-par 158 tournament total.
The Girls 12-13 Division champion was Eva Greenberg (2024) of Rockford, Ill., who carded back-to-back rounds of 7-over-par 78s to finish the tournament with a 14-over-par 156 total. This was Greenberg’s fourth appearance at the YDP Player of the Year, and her second first place finish in 2019 – her first came at the YDP Season Opener @ Countryside.
In second place was Rebecca Wu (2024) of Naperville, Ill., who carded a 16-over-par 158 tournament total. Rounding out the top three were Kacie Moon (2025) of Northbrook, Ill., and Caroline Owens (2024) of Hinsdale, Ill., who each carded a 19-over-par 161.
Winning the season-long points race in the Girls 12-13 Division was Bailey Bitbabo (2023) of Chicago.
The Boys 10-11 champion was Alex Lee (2026) of Northbrook, Ill., who finished the tournament with a 3-under-par 139 total. His first round included eight birdies, for a 5-under-par 66. Lee won seven events during the YDP regular season.
Coming in runner-up in the Boys 10-11 Division was Jimmmy Snyder (2026) of Chicago, who carded a 17-over-par 159 total. In third place was Tad Collett (2026) of Glenview, Ill., who carded a 21-over-par 163.
Snyder also won the season-long points race for the Boys 10-11 Division.
In the Girls 10-11 Division, Sophia Joeng (2026) of Buffalo Grove, Ill., earned champion honors after finishing the two days with a 12-over-par 154 total. Joeng finished atop the leaderboard four times during the regular season. This was Joeng’s second appearance at the YDP Player of the Year Championship.
Coming in runner-up was Reese Wallace (2027) of South Barrington, Ill., who carded an 18-over-par 160 tournament total. Rounding out the top three was Martha Kuwahara (2026) of Northbrook, Ill., who finished the tournament with a 25-over-par 167 total.
The winner of the season-long points race in the Girls 10-11 Division was Courtney Beerheide (2026) of Arlington Heights, Ill.
