The 2026 Illinois High School Association girls golf postseason is officially in full swing, and things got absolutely wild in the Peoria area on Tuesday, September 29. Seriously, if you weren’t watching, you missed Metamora (Class 1A), Macomb (Class 1A), and Dunlap (Class 2A) all crowned regional champions! Now that’s how you kick things off.
Metamora’s Dominance and Mitchell’s Masterclass
Talk about a clutch performance! Playing on her home course, Metamora Fields, junior Addie Mitchell absolutely went off. She carded a ridiculous 1-under 70, snagging the Class 1A Metamora Regional individual title. Can you believe it? That score wasn’t just good for her, it practically carried the Redbirds, helping them hit a 309 team score to absolutely crush runner-up Peoria Notre Dame (353) by a staggering 44 strokes. But here’s the kicker, the real “did you just see that?!” moment: Mitchell finished her round by posting *four consecutive birdies* on holes 15, 16, 17, and 18. Yeah, you read that right. Four in a row to edge out teammate Gillian Tyra, who finished with a 2-over 73 for second place. Both are now headed to the Cambridge Sectional at Valley View Club. Unbelievable!
Eagle on Sixteen for Coulter, Post Claws Back
Even with Metamora taking the top two spots, other players absolutely stepped up. Peoria Notre Dame sophomore Bryn Coulter was the highest non-Metamora finisher at the Class 1A Metamora regional, shooting a 12-over 83 for a tied-for-third finish. That helped the Irish to a second-place team finish, sending them to Valley View Club for sectionals too. Coulter’s round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5, 450-yard 16th hole. An eagle! She also threw in a birdie on No. 4, seven pars, and only three bogeys. Not bad at all! Meanwhile, Eureka senior Kiley Post, also heading to Cambridge Sectional, finished tied for eighth with an 18-over 89. She hit a rough patch with four double-bogeys on holes four, five, eight, and ten, but watch this: Post finished her round strong with par, bogey, par, bogey, bogey on the final five holes for an 8-over 44 on the 2,538-yard back nine. That’s serious resilience, fighting to finish strong.
Hunt and Brown Punch Their Tickets
Over in Class 2A, Dunlap’s Sydney Hunt continues to show why she’s a two-time reigning Journal Star Golfer of the Year. She shot a 4-over 75 at the Galesburg Regional, taking second by a single stroke behind Moline senior Haley Robertson’s 3-over 74. Hunt bagged a trio of birdies on the front nine at Lake Bracken Country Club, and her Eagles team (323) dominated the regional, winning by 21 strokes. Hunt is now off to the Class 2A Normal West Sectional at Ironwood Golf Course. And don’t forget Pekin’s Leah Brown, a senior who helped her Dragons team to a second-place finish at the Class 2A Galesburg Regional, carding a 7-over 78 at Lake Bracken Country Club. Pekin (344) was the runner-up there, so she’s got that sectional spot locked down too!
So, what’s next for these amazing golfers? Sectionals are set for Monday, October 5. Everyone’s fighting to carry that regional momentum. Then it’s on to the IHSA state finals, scheduled for October 9-10 in Decatur. Who’s going to step up and make their mark? We’ll be watching!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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