DUNDEE, Ill. – The Illinois Junior Golf Association Youth Development Program Player of the Year Championship concluded Tuesday marking the end of the 2016 YDP summer season. Four champions were named after great rounds of golf.
The YDP POY Championship was contested at Randall Oaks Golf Club in Dundee, Ill., August 8-9. The Boys 12-13 Division played the par 71 course from 5,802 yards, the Girls 12-13 Division and Boys 10-11 Division played the course from 5,039 yards. The Girls 10-11 Division played the course from 4,159 yards. The 12-13 Divisions played a 36 hole, stroke play event over two days, while the 10-11 Divisions played an 18 hole stroke play event on the second day.
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 12-13 Division, Dori Lee (2022) of Buffalo Grove, Ill., carded a two-day total of 5-over-par 147 to take top honors for the tournament. Lee carded four birdies and nine pars in the final round.
Coming in runner-up was Eli Myers (2023) of Northbrook, Ill., with a tournament total of 7-over-par 149. In a tie for third was Brett Paeglow (2021) of DeKalb, Ill., and Pierce Grieve (2021) of Lake Forest, Ill., each carded a two-day total of 9-over-par 151.
Kevin O’Regan (2021) of Northbrook, Ill., was named champion of the Boys 12-13 Division Player of the Year Points Race and also took home the low scoring average award for the 2016 season.
In the Girls 12-13 Division, Emily Duan (2022) of Buffalo Grove, Ill., carded an impressive 4-under-par 138 to take home champion honors for the tournament. Duan also took home the low scoring average for the 2016 season for the division.
Coming in at 11-over-par 153 were Symantha Rohwedder (2020) of Prospect Heights, Ill., and Stephanie Su (2021) of South Barrington, Ill.
Maria Perakis (2021) of Glenview, Ill., took home the Girls 12-13 Player of the Year Points Race hardware.
In the Boys 10-11 Division, Asa Thomas (2023) of Lake Forest, Ill., carded a 5-over-par 76 to take home top honors. Thomas carded two birdies and nine pars during his round.
Coming in runner-up was Jason Gordon (2023) of Chicago, Ill., after finishing the day with a 7-over-par 78. Rounding out the top-3 was Aleks Slesers (2023) of Libertyville, Ill., who carded an 8-over-par 79.
In the Girls 10-11 Division, a playoff between Alexandra Santos (2023) of Des Plaines, Ill., and Lexi Schulman (2023) of Vernon Hills, Ill., to determine a winner after each golfer carded a 6-over-par 77. After four playoff holes, Schulman won the playoff with a birdie.
Rounding out the top-3 was Ella Greenburg (2023) of Rockford, Ill., who finished the day with a 7-over-par 78.
This concludes the 2016 YDP Summer Season. The fall tournament season will begin September 24-25, with the Fall Jr Elite Series #1 @ Deerpath GC in Lake Forest, Ill.
