HISTORY MADE AT ISJA
The 48th Illinois State Junior Amateur
concluded after several rain delays and
54 holes of competitive golf. The Illinois
Junior Golf Association awarded the 2017
ISJA champion honors to Brendan O’Reilly
(2017) of Hinsdale, Ill.
The Illinois State Junior Amateur (ISJA) is
a 54-hole, stroke play event with a cut to
the low 50 and ties after 36 holes. The
field, which is made up of 156 male junior
golfers from Illinois ages 12-18, played the
par 71 course from 6,902 yards.
O’Reilly made history, becoming the only
person to win the ISJA three times. He also
holds the record as the only person to win
ISJA back-to-back, which happened in 2013
and 2014. When asked about how making
history felt, O’Reilly said:
“It’s awesome, this is a great event and
it’s always a tough field. Knowing that I
outlasted everyone for the three times I’ve
played here and being able to take home a
win the three times, there is nothing better
than that.”
O’Reilly finished the tournament with an
even-par 213. His final round of 1-over-par
72 included back-to-back birdies on Nos.
15 & 16. This was O’Reilly’s last season
with the IJGA and he is currently a member
University of Illinois golf team.
O’Reilly Makes
History at ISJA
12
Illinois Junior Golf Association
“I am most excited for the golf team at U
of I,” said O’Reilly. “I’ve put in a lot of work
with my coaches and I have had so many
great people in my corner helping me get
to where I am. Now I have an opportunity
to play for Coach Small and that’s going to
be really exciting and I’m going to try to get
a lot better when I get there.”
O’Reilly looked back fondly on his time
playing junior golf with the IJGA, “I think my
favorite part about the IJGA is the people
you get to play with. I have known some
of these guys since I started playing in the
IJGA when I was seven or eight, and now