The 2025 IHSA golf state finals just wrapped up, and let me tell you, the competition was fiercer than ever! But here's where it gets controversial: did the tiebreaker system truly crown the most deserving team in the boys' Class 2A finals? Let's dive into the highlights and leave that debate for later.
Held across Bloomington-Normal and Decatur, this year's tournament showcased the incredible talent of Illinois high school golfers. With 24 individuals and four teams representing the Peoria area, the stakes were high. Among the standout performers, Dunlap's Nolan Eccles and Bureau Valley's Wyatt Novotny claimed individual state championships, solidifying their places as top golfers in their respective divisions.
And this is the part most people miss: the nail-biting tiebreaker in the boys' Class 2A finals. Both Washington and Normal U-High finished with identical four-player totals of 596 strokes. However, U-High clinched the title because their fifth lowest-scoring golfer had a better score than Washington's. It's a detail that sparks debate—should the fifth golfer's score really decide a team championship? What do you think?
Here’s a breakdown of the top teams and medalists across all divisions:
Class 1A Boys (Prairie Vista Golf Course, Bloomington)
- Trophy Teams: 1. Teutopolis (623), 2. Fulton (634), 3. Port Byron Riverdale (637)
- Top Medalists: Wyatt Novotny (Bureau Valley) led with 144 strokes, followed by Coen Pennington (Teutopolis) and Nolan Murphy (Illini West) tied at 146.
Class 2A Boys (Weibring Golf Club, Normal)
- Trophy Teams: 1. Normal U-High (596, won tiebreaker), 2. Washington (596), 3. West Chicago Wheaton Academy (307)
- Top Medalists: Nolan Eccles (Dunlap) dominated with 137 strokes, while Carson Tribout (Belleville Althoff) and Brody Allen (Normal U-High) tied for second at 140.
Class 3A Boys (The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course, Bloomington)
- Trophy Teams: 1. Winnetka New Trier (589), 1. Evanston (589), 3. Elmhurst York (607)
- Top Medalists: Lester Low (Evanston) took first with 137 strokes, followed by Isaac Rumler (Moline) at 138.
Class 1A Girls (Red Tail Run Golf Course, Decatur)
- Trophy Teams: 1. Mount Carmel (624), 2. Quincy Notre Dame (649), 3. Breese Central (656)
- Top Medalists: Sarah Hyten (Glen Carbon Father McGivney) led with 146 strokes, followed by Avery Arendell (Columbia) at 147.
Class 2A Girls (Hickory Point Golf Course, Forsyth)
- Trophy Teams: 1. Northbrook Glenbrook North (604), 2. Lincolnshire Stevenson (609), 3. Winnetka New Trier (626)
- Top Medalists: Alli Wiertel (Oswego East) topped the charts with 136 strokes, while Martha Kuwahara (Glenbrook North) and Miah Wanserski (Downers Grove South) tied for second at 141.
As we celebrate these young athletes' achievements, it’s worth asking: Are the current tiebreaker rules fair, or do they need a rethink? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s keep the conversation going!
