Underclassmen took the Peoria-area golf scene by storm in 2023.
With those athletes being a year older and more experienced, local golfers could be for a banner year during the 2024 campaign. Matches begin Aug. 15 with girls regionals taking place on Oct. 1 and the boys competing the following day. Sectionals are then Oct. 7, while the state finals for both boys and girls are Oct. 11-12.
Here are the Peoria area’s boys and girls golfers to watch in 2024. Golfers are listed in alphabetical order.
BOYS
Adams enters his junior season as the reigning Mid-Illini Conference individual champion. He won the league title by one stroke with a 1-over 73 at Quail Meadows, while guiding the Potters to the Mid-Illini crown. Adams also helped Morton to a Class 2A runner-up regional team finish.
Eccles was a Class 2A regional medalist during his first varsity season. He fired a 1-over 72 at Gibson Woods, making four birdies on the fifth, ninth, 11th and 13th holes. The sophomore was the runner-up at the 2023 Mid-Illini tournament. Look for Eccles to be in contention for the state finals after missing the cut by two strokes.
As a freshman, Fortin was a top-40 finisher at the Class 1A state finals. He carded a final round 10-over 82 to take a tied for 34th finish at Prairie Vista Golf Course. Fortin was a state qualifier after finishing 15th and tied for 10th place, respectively, at regionals and sectionals.
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Coulter made a great run during the 2023 postseason, capping his freshman season with a tied 27th place with a 4-over 75 at the state finals. He put together a five-birdie, 2-over 73 at Metamora Fields for a third-place individual finish, while PND won the Class 2A Metamora Regional. Coulter took tied for 11th place at the sectional.
Gavin Schreurs, Washington
Schreus was stellar during his sophomore season, finishing as an all-Mid-Illini Conference first-team pick as the top Panther finisher. The junior took a third-place finish at the Class 3A Bloomington Regional as Washington won the team title. His season ended in the sectional as the Panthers took fifth as a team.
Watson is the reigning Journal Star boys golfer of the year after he tied for 24th place at the Class 2A state meet. The senior made a pair of birdies in shooting a final-round 8-over 79 at the state finals. Watson was a third-place finisher at the Mid-Illini Conference. He had an incredible three weeks last season, winning seven events.
GIRLS
Look for the senior to build off a great end to her 2023 season. She played in the final round of the Class 1A state finals, finishing in 70th place off the strength off three pars. Downing tied for second at the Mid-Illini Conference Tournament, putting together an 85.
Fully expect Howard to be the top Irish golfer in 2024. The senior tied for 16th in the final round of the Class 1A state finals, sinking 11 pars in a row as PND was the state third-place finisher. Howard took regional runner-up honors behind now-graduated and two-time Journal Star golfer of the year Ella Coulter.
Sydney Hunt, Dunlap
The sophomore made a great impression during her first varsity season. She was the only freshman on the all-Mid-Illini first-team. Hunt then shot a team-best for the Eagles, who finished as a Class 2A regional runner-up. Her sectional performance was just seven strokes out qualifying for the Class 2A state finals.
Kami Jarvill, Pekin
The senior is one of five returning all-Mid-Illini first-team golfers from a year ago. She was instrumental in helping the Dragons claim a Class 2A regional championship, finishing eight strokes behind individual medalist and teammate Sydney Hubner. Jarvill was just one stroke away from making the Class 2A state meet.
Morgan Robinson, Morton
Robinson comes back for her junior season following a top-eight finish in the Mid-Illini Conference, earning first-team honors. She was the third-place finisher in a Class 2A regional, advancing to the sectional with the Potters. Her season ended at the sectional level, finishing 11 shots out of qualifying for the state meet.
Leighton Trego, United
Trego ended her season on a high note, finishing tied for 49th at the Class 1A state finals. The senior shot a final-round 16-over 88, recording a birdie on a 522-yard par-5. She made her run to state by helping the Red Storm finish as a Class 1A regional runner-up, then advanced out of a tough Pontiac Sectional field.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA golf preview: Top high school boys and girls golfers in Peoria
