IESA Headlines

2023 IESA Golf State Tournament Tees Off Sept. 14-15 in Metamora

Students from 78 Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) member schools will compete in the 12th annual IESA Golf State Tournament at Metamora Fields Golf Course in Metamora with girls on Thursday, Sept. 14 and boys on Friday, Sept. 15. There will be over 150 students who will compete in the event over the two days. A complete list of the individuals, participating schools, and tee times is located on the IESA website at the following link:

https://www.iesa.org/activities/go/times_State.asp?Year=2023

This will be the first year that the IESA Golf State Tournament will include a team element. Eight teams have advanced to the Boys tournament and six teams have advanced to the Girls tournament. In the girls tournament, Frankfort Hickory Creek leads the team field with a combined Sectional score of 375. Barrington Prairie leads all teams on the boys side with a combined Sectional score of 318.

The first tee times for both the girls and the boys tournament are scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. off of the 1st and 10th tees.

The state finals will consist of a girls division and a boys division. All participants will compete in one 18 hole round of golf.

The girls sectional qualifying tournaments were held on Thursday, September 7 at five different sites across the state. The boys sectional qualifying tournaments were held on Wednesday, September 6 at seven different sites across the state. This is the ninth year that the boys and the eighth year that the girls advanced to the finals as a result of sectional tournaments. A total of 155 schools participated at the sectional level.

There are several returning medalists within the girls' field this year. Sarah Scott (Lemont Old Quarry) placed 4th last year as a 6th grader and finished as the top golfer at her Sectional this year. Sophia Christy (Barrington Prairie), who was a 7th grader last year, placed 3rd in 2022. Scott and Christy finished 1st and 2nd in their Sectional this year and Christy will also be competing for a team title. Kenzie Christie (Vernon Hills Hawthorn North) took 7th last year and is returning to the tournament this year. All return for what should be a very competitive 2023 Championship.

In the Boys division, Logan Gowin (Mattoon St. John’s) is returning after finishing in a tie for 6th place last year. Gowin was also the top finisher in his Sectional this year. Nolan Murphy (Carthage) also took 6th place last year and returns this year competing for both an individual and team title. Jack Quinn (Normal Chiddix) will also return to improve on his 6th place finish from last year. Quinn also led the field in his Sectional this year. Also returning this year is Ethan Chang (Vernon Hills Hawthorn North) who finished in 10th place in the 2022 tournament.

Five courses served as sectional hosts on September 6 for the girls ---Sectional A was held at Countryside Golf Course in Mundelein; Sectional B was held at Madison Golf Course in Peoria; Sectional C was played at Lincoln Greens in Springfield; Sectional D was played at Wolf Creek Golf Club in Pontiac; and Sectional E was played at Willow Pond in Rantoul. Results from all four girls’ sectionals are located at this link:

The boys competed in their sectional qualifier on September 7 at seven different sites. Sectional A was held at Ingersoll Golf Course in Rockford; Sectional B was held at Quail Meadows in East Peoria; Sectional C was held at Parkview Country Club in Pekin; Sectional D was held at The Lincoln Elks Golf Course in Lincoln; Sectional E was held at the Oaks at Rivers Edge in Pontiac; Sectional F was held at Eagle Ridge Golf Course in Paris; and Sectional G was held at Wolf Creek Golf Club in Pontiac. Results from the boys sectionals are located at this link:

Live scoring will be available on the IESA website as the rounds are being played and a complete hole by hole listing will be posted on the website at the conclusion of the day. The awards ceremony will take place after the last golfers have completed their round. Individual awards will be given during the ceremony, with the top 10 finishers in each division receiving medals. The top four teams in each division will receive trophies.

Complete tournament information is located at www.iesa.org. Click on the Golf link at the top of the IESA home page. Also, the IESA Fanzone available on the IESA home page can provide additional information.

There will be no admission or parking charge at the tournament.

Should weather become a factor, the IESA website will contain up-to-date information regarding the completion of the tournament. Go to www.iesa.org for any changes to the schedule and for the final results which will be posted at the conclusion of the awards ceremony.

For more information, please contact the Golf Administrator Chris Frasco at 309-829-0114 or chris@iesa.org.