LOCKPORT, Ill.— 57 boys and 16 girls competed in the Players Challenge at Broken Arrow Golf Club on Tuesday May 28 and Wednesday May 29. Luke Walker (69-71–140) of Downers Grove topped the leaderboard for the boys and Gianna White (36-77–113) of Lockport took home the title for the girls.

 

THE TOURNAMENT:

  • The Players Challenge at Broken Arrow is a 36-hole stroke play event for junior ages 14-18 spanning two days. Due to weather concerns, the girls were capped at nine holes during round one, making the hole count 27.
  • Par for the course was 72. The girls played the course at 5,602 yards and the boys played the course at 6,581 yards.

 

THE BOYS’ LEADERBOARD:

  • Walker made four birdies during the first nine holes on day one, setting himself up for success early on. He was three under par in round one and one below par in round two for a combined four under, allowing him to finish five strokes ahead of second place.
  • Runner-up Tyler Samaan (74-71–145) of Elgin was two over par in round one and one under par in round two, finishing one over par. He finished out round two with seven pars and two birdies on the back nine to move into second place
  • Dylan Mott (76-69–146) of Mokena and Trenton Kurtz (70-76–146) of Kildeer each tied for third place after finishing two over par. Mott’s tournament was highlighted by six birdies in round two and Kurtz’s by four birdies and 12 pars in round one.
  • Homer Glen native Jonathan Schlender (79-73–152) and Evanston native Henry Scmidt (81-71–152) each finished eight over par, tying for fifth place. Both hit their stride in round two, shooting one over par and one under par, respectively.
  • The full leaderboard can be found at https://ijga.bluegolf.com/bluegolfw/ijga24/event/ijga2416/contest/21/leaderboard.htm

 

ROUND HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Mitchell Fulayter and Ben Howey each made eagles. Both were on the first hole, a par four, in rounds two and one, respectively.
  • Walker made seven total birdies and Alex Hartman, Kurtz, and Mott, and Quinn Swienton each made six.
  • Walker and Adam Drabek each made par on 26 of the 36 holes.
  • Joseph Brasky and Mott birdied three holes back to back during round two.
  • Samaan went 16 straight holes without a birdie from hole five in round one through holes two in round two.

 

 

THE GIRLS’ LEADERBOARD:

  • Gianna White shot par in round one and five over par in round two for a two-round score of five over par. She was consistent through both rounds, making 15 pars in 27 holes.
  • Ava Alimissis of Long Grove (38-76–114) took second and was two over par in round one and four over par in round two to finish at plus six. She made four birdies and 17 pars overall.
  • Bolingbrook native Taylor Miller (42-76–118) finished in third after putting up a 27-hole score of 10 over par with rounds of six and four over par. She made five total birdies in 27 holes.
  • New Lenox’s Peyton White (42-82–124) took fourth place for the girls with a score of six over par in round one and 10 over par in round two. Her final score was +16.
  • Maddy Donovan (41-85–126) from Mchenry and Nadia Vattana (41-85–126) rounded out the top five. They both matched with scores of five over par and 13 over par to earn a two-round score of 18 over.
  • The full leaderboard can be found at https://ijga.bluegolf.com/bluegolfw/ijga24/event/ijga2416/contest/21/leaderboard.htm

 

ROUND HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Grace Gilbert eagle hole one, a par four, during the second round.
  • Miller made five total birdies and Alimissis and Gianna White each made four.
  • Alimissis, Donovan, and Miller each posted back-to-back birdies during the tournament.
  • Peyton White went six straight holes without a bogey from holes 12 to 17 during round two.

 

PHOTOS:
Click here for a link to photos from the event. They are organized by day one tee times.

 

UP NEXT:
The next Players Challenge is May 30 and 31 and will take place at Blackberry Oaks in Bristol, Illinois.