Benet Academy girls golf is flying high to start the IHSA girls golf season after the Redwings used a balanced effort to take home the 2026 Vern McGonagle City Championship while Metea Valley sophomore Maya Shah earned the individual title.
The Naperville Country Club welcomed the six area high school girls golf teams for the 24th edition of the Vern McGonagle Memorial City Championship! Naperville Central took home the title, but Metea Valley and Benet Academy bring back several key members from state-qualifying rosters. The tournament also returns to the 18-hole format for the first time since 2023. This highlight is sponsored by BMO.
The shotgun start has players getting underway all around the course. Naperville North golfer Keira Priess unleashes her best shot of the day on the 18th green, chipping within feet of the pin to help the Huskie par the hole. She ties for the fourth-best score on the team.
In the same pairing is Bonnie Reeb from Benet Academy, and she must have picked up some pointers from Priess as she drops her shot within gimmie distance. Reeb sinks the birdie and shoots an 88 on the day.
Mustangs look for another strong season
Onto the second hole, where Metea Valley sophomore Maya Shah is back after an outstanding freshman campaign. She picks up where she left off with a nice chip on hole number two. Shah is the leader at two-under after her first nine holes.
In her group is another returning state qualifier, Mina Shyam from Waubonsie Valley, who buries a tough par save on the third green. She leads the team with a round of 76, which is tied for second best overall.
Her teammate and fellow 2025 state qualifier Siya Sohal also hits a tricky putt, sinking hers on the second hole as part of a round of 88 for the Warriors.
Metea Valley looks to repeat as DuPage Valley Conference champions this fall. Varsity newcomer Gigi Sereenen shows off her promise with a good putt on the second hole as she fires a 96.
Benet pushes towards the top of the leaderboard
Over to hole number 17, where Madelyn Maldonado calmly drops in a putt for par. The Redwing shoots a strong score of 82 to keep the black and red on top of the team leaderboard.
Benet has a very balanced attack from the whole roster. Emma Simkus has a nice chip over the water on 13, where she eventually two-putts for par. Her round of 88 is one of five totals under 90 for Benet on the day.
Neuqua Valley’s Malar Anand has a tricky shot between a tree and a golf shot, but the Wildcat does not let the obstacles distract her as she chips onto the green. She goes on to lead the blue and gold with an 89, finishing in the top ten, two shots ahead of teammate Aditi Reddy.
Redhawks get a balanced effort
Lilliana Plitt lines up for a lengthy par putt on 15 for the defending McGonagle champs. She buries it as the senior leads Naperville Central with a round of 90.
Mia Kuruvilla is the top Naperville North golfer in the tournament. She gets out of the greenside bunker with a great chip near the pin. She then saves the par as part of a round of 92.
On the fourteenth green, Ahanna Patel makes the most of her first McGonagle with the Redhawks, sinking a long putt to save par. She finishes her day with a 93.
Another Redhawk with a solid day is Alexa Miller, who has a good up-and-down on 16 with a chip onto the dance floor, followed by a well-struck putt for par and a round of 95.
The Redwings continue to soar as Elise Hanson drops a chip over the water on 13 to set up a par. All six Wings score under 100.
Redwings take home the McGonagle trophy
Leading the way for Benet is another super sophomore, Lauren Gauss, who finished in the top ten at state a season ago. She looks ready for the 2026 season as she sinks one of her 14 pars on the afternoon to lead the team with a 76. Teammate Kate Lewis also finishes in the top five individually with an 82.
The top individual golfer and the McGonagle champ is Maya Shah. She leads the way with an impressive round of 74, helped by a fantastic eagle on number 13. The Mustangs finish in second place as a team, ahead of Waubonsie Valley. Benet Academy wins the McGonagle team championship with a total of 328, starting the season on a high note.
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