IHSA playoffs: 7 breakout high school girls golfers from Peoria area head to 2026 sectionals

The 2026 Illinois High School Association girls golf postseason began across the Peoria area on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

>Metamora (Class 1A), Macomb (Class 1A) and Dunlap (Class 2A) were crowned regional champions. Sectionals are set for Monday, Oct. 5. The IHSA state finals are scheduled for Oct. 9-10 in Decatur.

>Below are seven breakout golfers looking to carry that regional momentum into the sectional.

Addie Mitchell, MetamoraMitchell made the most of playing on her home course — Metamora Fields. The junior carded a 1-under 70 to capture the Class 1A Metamora Regional individual title. Her score also helped the Redbirds (309) beat runner-up Peoria Notre Dame (353) by 44 strokes. Mitchell finished her round by posting four consecutive birdies on 15, 16, 17 and 18 to edge teammate and second place Gillian Tyra (2-over 73) and advance to the Cambridge Sectional at Valley View Club.

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Bryn Coulter, Peoria Notre DameCoulter was the highest non-Metamora finisher at the Class 1A Metamora regional. The sophomore shot a 12-over 83 for a tied-for-third finish at Metamora Fields. This helped the Irish to a second-place team finish and an advancement to Valley View Club for the Cambridge Sectional. Her round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5, 450-yard 16th hole. She added another birdie to her card on No. 4 and also put together seven pars and three bogeys on the day.

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Kiley Post, EurekaPost is off to the Cambridge Sectional and will play at Valley View Club following her round at the Class 1A Metamora Regional. The senior finished tied for eighth place at Metamora Fields, carding an 18-over 89. She was just six shots off a top-five finish but had four double-bogeys on holes four, five, eight and 10. However, Post finished her round strong by going par, bogey, par, bogey, bogey on the final five holes. This gave her an 8-over 44 on the 2,538-yard back nine.

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Sydney Hunt, DunlapHunt continues her consistent play, stamping her ticket to the Class 2A Normal West Sectional at Ironwood Golf Course. The two-time reigning Journal Star Golfer of the Year shot a 4-over 75, taking second at the Galesburg Regional by one stroke. She was a stroke behind winner and Moline senior Haley Robertson (3-over 74). Hunt recorded a trio of birdies on the front nine at Lake Bracken Country Club as the Eagles (323) won the regional title by 21 strokes.

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Leah Brown, PekinBrown helped the Dragons to a second-place finish at the Class 2A Galesburg Regional. The senior shot a 7-over 78 at Lake Bracken Country Club as Pekin (344) was runner-up to Mid-Illini Conference foe Dunlap (323). Brown's scorecard featured a birdie on No. 15 along with 11 pars, four bogeys and two double bogeys. She and teammate Isla Clements (10-over 81) were the lone top-10 finishers for the Dragons, who now head to the Normal West Sectional at Ironwood.

Taylor Mann, MacombMann ran away with the Class 1A Kewanee Regional individual title. The sophomore put together a 9-over 80 at Baker Park Golf Course to take home medalist honors by five strokes. Her score, along with tied-for-third Reese Watson (15-over 86), gave Macomb (367) regional title by 15 strokes over runner-up Monmouth United (382). Mann's round included wrapping up with a birdie on the par-5 18 as she advances to the Cambridge Sectional at Valley View Club.

Kate Andersen, FarmingtonAndersen's finish not only guides the Farmers into the Cambridge Sectional at Valley View Club but also put her as a top-five regional finisher. The senior shot an 18-over 89 at the Class 1A Kewanee Regional, putting herself just three shots away from placing in the top three. Andersen carded five pars (1, 6, 7, 9, 18), while picking up a pair of birdies on No. 4 and No. 11, respectively. That gave Farmington (427) a top-three team finish by nine strokes over Brimfield (436).

>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 playoffs: 7 breakout high school girls golfers from Peoria area head to 2026 sectionals