Delavan tournament participants (left to right): Hudson Briggs, Hunter Lusher, Lyndon Miller, and Grady Burrell.
Optimist Tournament: Delavan Golfer Swings to Fourth-Place
On June 9-11, 84 junior golfers aged 10-18 competed in the Optimist International Junior Golf Midwest Qualifier tournament, held at the Red Tail Golf Club in Decatur, Illinois. Fourteen winners, the top two from each age group, earned the opportunity to advance to the International Championship tournament in Miami, where they will compete against players from 26 other countries.
Among the participants were four members of the Delavan High School golf team, sponsored by the Optimist Club of Delavan: Hudson Briggs, Grady Burrell, Hunter Lusher, and Lyndon Miller. Each player played hard, showcasing their skills on this challenging course.
Grady Burrell, competing in the Boys 14-15 age group, delivered an impressive performance, scoring 76 in the first round and 83 in the second, for a total of 159. His consistent play earned him fourth place in his category. This marks his second year participating in the tournament. Last year, Burrell competed in the Boys 12-13 age group and placed second, with a total score of 162, shooting 81 in each round.
Hudson Briggs, competing in the Boys 16-18 age group, scored 192 over two rounds, shooting 99 in the first and 93 in the second. Both Hunter Lusher and Lyndon Miller competed in the Boys 14-15 age group, with Lusher scoring 198 (104 and 94 in rounds one and two, respectively) and Miller finishing at 195 (96 and 99). Miller also participated in last year’s tournament, where he scored 210 in the same age group, showing notable improvement in this year’s event.
Briggs and Lusher, both first-time participants in this tournament, commented on the difficulty of the course. “It was a hard course,” said Lusher. Briggs agreed, adding, “It was nearly four miles long, and even harder when carrying 25 pounds [of clubs] on your back.”
Delavan High School golf coaches Zach Damm and Steve Lusher accompanied the players, providing guidance and support throughout the competition. Their efforts, along with the team’s hard work, highlight the growing talent and determination of Delavan’s young golfers.
