USA Central golfers take first in team event

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The Illinois Junior Golf Club and the Bolingbrook Golf Club partnered to host the World Youth Team Challenge the last four days, and it turned out to be a world-class event.

With five teams from the United States and five international teams competing, the best junior players from the world were on display. One hundred eighty kids from the United States, Mexico, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Colombia participated in the tournament which is patterned after the Ryder Cup.

The teams were divided into two pools for the first three days while the championship round was played Tuesday. Team USA Central and Team USA West met for the title and the Central squad earned an 11.5-6.5 victory. Mexico A defeated the USA defending champion team 10-8 for third place.

Raymond Knoll, an incoming freshman at Naperville North, and teammate Carter Jenkins helped the USA Central team claim first place in pool B -- scoring a 1-up win on Saturday, a 2-up win on Sunday, and a 1 up win and a 3-and-2 decision on Sunday while posting two all square matches in the 13-year-old boys division.

"This was really cool competing against other countries, but it was also really tough," Knoll said prior to his final round. "I've been playing really good, though."

Knoll and Jenkins scored a 3-and-1 victory in the morning alternate-shot round and added a 2-up triumph in the afternoon best shot. USA Central scored 5.5 points to the West's 3.5 in the alternate-shot competition and tallied a 6-3 score in the best shot.

Josh Stefanski of Waubonsie Valley competed in the 15-year-old division for the Midwest team. He and teammate Kyle Weldon scored a 1-up win on Saturday while dropping a pair of close decisions on Sunday. On Monday the duo garnered a 3-and-2 win and were all square in the other match.

Stefanski and Weldon lost by a 2-up count in the alternate shot in the final day, but finished all square in the best shot to earn a half-point.

"I love the format," Stefanski said. "It's great. It allows for the diversity of players. It has been great playing against Mexico and the other countries. Playing the event is much different than playing a normal tournament. We get to play as a team."

"It's a tough course, and very windy," Stefanski added. "It's very open. The wind and weather make it difficult to play."

Timothy Kelly of Wheaton buried a 35-foot putt on the ninth hole Tuesday to complete a comeback. He and teammate Ian Mankoff were down three holes with three to go in the alternate-shot competition, but managed to make it all square winning the final three holes. Kelly and Mankoff scored a 1-up win on Sunday and a 3-and-2 decision on Monday.

"We knew it wasn't over and we'd been playing with each other a lot," Kelly said of the comeback. "My drive on hole 9 drifted a little right, but Ian hit it about 35 right of the hole and gave me a good look at it. I just liked the look of it."

Kelly and Austin Lowe paired for an all square in the best shot against Mexico's Jonathan Noble and Henry Davis for their final round.

Elisa Palluau, who attends Naperville North, and teammate Kennedy Windlan of Indiana were the Midwest team's 15- and 16-year-old girl tandem. The duo earned an all square in the best-ball portion but fell 1-up to Daniela Ortiz and Frida Castillo in the alternate-shot.

"I think we defended ourselves really well even though we lost some of our game," Palluau said. "We were down early but found a way to get back in it. We were kind of timid in the beginning, but in the end we knew each other a little better and played that to our advantage."

"It was so nice playing in this tournament, because you weren't just playing for yourself," Palluau continued. "You had to think about the team. You get to meet new people and have people there to help you out."

Mexico B scored a 6.5 to 2.5 decision over the Midwest team in the alternate-shot, but the Midwest tallied a 6-3 win in the best ball to conclude the tournament.