The 2025 IHSA Golf State Finals are here, and the competition is fiercer than ever! After the first round in Bloomington-Normal and Decatur, the stage is set for an unforgettable weekend of golf. But here's where it gets controversial: with only the top teams and players advancing, who will rise to the occasion, and who will be left behind? Let's dive into the results and see who's still in the running.
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) boys and girls golf state finals kicked off on Friday, with the top eight teams and top 40 individual golfers from each class advancing to Day 2. This means that only the best of the best will compete on Saturday, where the top three teams in each class will take home state trophies, and the top 10 golfers will earn state medals. It's a high-stakes situation, and every stroke counts.
And this is the part most people miss: the Peoria area is well-represented, with 24 individuals and four teams competing across the finals. You can find the full list of Peoria-area participants here.
Class 1A Boys
At Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington, the advancing teams include Teutopolis (313), Elgin Harvest Christian (317), Fulton (320), and Glen Carbon Father McGivney (323), among others. Boldly, some teams just missed the cut, like Hall (338), whose players Noah Plym and Clayton Fusinetti both shot 85. Among the top individual advancers, Wyatt Novotny (Bureau Valley) leads with an impressive 70, followed by Jacob Voss (Fulton) with 72. Peoria-area golfers like Crew Fortin (Illini Bluffs) and Drake Hanson (Lewistown/Valley/Cuba) also advanced with scores of 77.
Class 2A Boys
Over at Weibring Golf Club in Normal, West Chicago Wheaton Academy (297) and Washington (300) are among the advancing teams. Washington's Gavin Schreurs stands out with a 71, while Nolan Eccles (Dunlap) leads the individual advancers with a 69. Here's a thought-provoking question: with such tight competition, how much does experience versus raw talent play into these results? Peoria-area golfers like Nick Herget (Dunlap) and Sean Graham (Peoria Notre Dame) also moved on.
Class 3A Boys
At The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course in Bloomington, Evanston (291) and Winnetka New Trier (296) are the teams to beat. Lester Low (Evanston) set the bar high with a 65, while Peoria-area golfer Shane Cunningham (Richwoods) advanced with a 77. But is there a strategy to these scores, or is it all about the day’s performance?
Class 1A Girls
At Red Tail Run Golf Course in Decatur, Mt. Carmel (316) and Quincy Notre Dame (329) are among the advancing teams. Miley Kennard (Mount Carmel) leads the individual advancers with a 74, while Peoria-area golfers Sara Finn (Illini Bluffs) and Sophie Wilson (Macomb) also moved on. Controversially, some teams fell just short, like Macomb (377), whose players showed promise but couldn't quite make the cut.
Class 2A Girls
Finally, at Hickory Point Golf Course in Forsyth, Northbrook Glenbrook North (306) and Lincolnshire Stevenson (309) are leading the pack. Grece Leber (New Trier) tops the individual advancers with a 69, while Peoria-area golfers Leah Brown (Pekin) and Sydney Hunt (Dunlap) also advanced. Here's a question to ponder: with such young talent rising through the ranks, are we witnessing the next generation of golf stars?
As we head into Day 2, the excitement is palpable. Who will claim the state trophies and medals? And what stories will emerge from this intense competition? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below – we'd love to hear your take on this thrilling event!
