NAPERVILLE COUNTRY CLUB HOSTS VERN MCGONAGLE MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
Naperville, Ill. (August 20, 2020) – For the 18th consecutive year, Naperville Country Club in Naperville, Ill. played host to the Vern McGonagle Memorial High School Golf Championship on Tuesday, August 18th. With identical team scores of 330, the boys and girls teams from Neuqua Valley High School won the boys and girls championships. The tournament, which serves as the Naperville City Championship, featured six boys and girls varsity teams from Naperville area high schools facing off in an 18-hole team competition.
Sarah Zheng from Neuqua Valley High School shot the low round of the tournament with a 3-over par 75, and Alec Cross, also of Neuqua Valley High School, shot a 7-over par 79 to place first in the boys division. Safety protocols in place for the event included golfers wearing masks while between shots and flags left in holes.
“I’d like to personally thank the Naperville Country Club members and staff for volunteering their time to assist with the 18th Annual McGonagle/Naperville City Championship,” said event organizer Craig Funkhouser. “Many players and coaches commented that this is their favorite tournament of the golf season and that this is the best course that they get to play.”
Tournament action got underway at 7:30 a.m. CST with a total of 72 competitors (36 boys and 36 girls) from local high schools, including Naperville Central, Naperville North, Neuqua Valley, Waubonsie Valley, Metea Valley and Benet Academy. Defending boys tournament champions from the Benet Academy came in second place, while defending girls champions from Naperville North placed second.
McGonagle, a big supporter of junior golf and a long-time member of Naperville Country Club, passed away in 2001 at the age of 62. Naperville Country Club has been hosting the Vern McGonagle Memorial High School Golf Championship since 2004 in McGonagle’s honor. Naperville Country Club regularly hosts local junior golf and high school golf events, such as the annual Vern McGonagle Memorial Championship, as well as college level events. In 2022, Naperville Country Club will host the prestigious Western Junior Championship.
Naperville Country Club is a private, member-owned club, managed by Troon Privé, the private club operations division of Troon. In addition to award-winning golf, Naperville Country Club provides a full array of dining, social and special event programming for the entire family. The club’s patio and restaurant are popular with members providing a place to relax and unwind, and have the best view in town.
For more information on Naperville Country Club, visit www.napervillecc.org.
About Naperville Country Club
Naperville Country Club was founded in 1921 and originally featured a 9-hole golf course with sand greens. Shortly after opening, golf course architect Tom Bendelow was engaged to design and build an 18-hole golf course on the 124-acre property. Bendelow’s original layout remained mostly intact until 2006 when architect Steve Forrest of Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest & Associates was commissioned to complete a major course renovation. Emphasis was placed on adding length to the golf course, improving shot values and developing new green complexes. The new Steve Forrest-designed course debuted in July 2007 and winds its way through rolling terrain, mature trees and ponds. The course has earned several national honors, including being named Golf Inc. magazine’s 2009 “Renovation of the Year” for private clubs.