(ROBINSON) — Mt. Carmel teams swept the day Wednesday at the 2026 Little Illini Conference boys and girls golf championships at Quail Creek Country Club here.
For the Golden Aces boys, it was a return to the top spot after Olney had claimed the crown last year. And, for the Lady Aces, they have never lost the LIC title since the school joined the league in 2021. For that matter, they’ve also won the last five IHSA Class 1A state championships in a row.
Mt. Carmel won the seven-team boys title by 29 shots, firing a collective 309. Newton was next at 338, followed by Casey-Westfield’s 346. Olney wound up fourth (with a total of 349), ahead of Robinson (365), Marshall (396), and Paris (409).
Zane Wilcox took medalist honors with a two-over-par round of 74. Mt. Carmel golfers claimed the top four spots on the leaderboard.
Mt. Carmel’s total of 347 in the girls’ tournament was 55 shots better than runner-up Olney’s 402. Robinson finished third with a team total of 410, followed by Marshall’s 525. Newton did not field a full team, but still landed three players on the all-conference team, including Haley Ochs, who finished fourth.
History was made in the girls tournament. Medalist Leah Correll of Robinson became the first Lady Maroons player to achieve that honor. She defeated Miranda Kennard of Mt. Carmel in a one-hole playoff after rounds of 81,.
The top 10 finishers in the boys’ tournament were named to the all-conference first team, while finishers 10-15 were selected for the second team. In the girls tourney, the top seven finishers made the first team, with the next four named to the second team.
IHSA post-season tournament play begins next week with Regionals across the state.
Here are the results of the 2026 Little Illini Conference Golf Championships. Hosted by: Quail Creek Country Club, Robinson.
BOYS
Team Standings: 1. Mt. Carmel 309, 2. Newton 338, 3. Casey-Westfield 346, 4. Olney 349, 5. Robinson 365, 6. Marshall 396, 7. Paris 409.
All-Conference (by finish):
First Team: 1. Zane Wilcox (Mt. Carmel) 74, 2. Logan Mobley (Mt. Carmel) 76, 3. Hatcher Kanipe (Mt. Carmel) 78, 4. Joel Schneider (Mt. Carmel) 80, T5. Austin Smith (Olney) 81, T5. Dierks Mitchell (Olney) 81, 7. Colton McGee, Mt. Carmel) 82, T8. Nolen Cleaver (Newton) 84, T8. Jacob Oldham (Newton) 84, T8. Drake Stevenson (Mt. Carmel) 84.
Second Team: T11. Tyler Volk (Casey-Westfield) 85, T11. Jacob Ferguson (Newton) 85, T11. Jack James (Newton) 85, 14. Kian Garver (Casey-Westfield) 86, 15. Ben Coonce (Robinson) 87.
GIRLS
Team Standings: 1. Mt. Carmel 347, 2. Olney 402, 3. Robinson 410, 4. Marshall 525. Newton did not field a full team.
All-Conference (by finish):
First Team: 1. Leah Correll (Robinson) 81*, 2. Miranda Kennard (Mt. Carmel) 81, 3. Makaya Bolden (Mt. Carmel 83), 4. Haley Ochs (Newton) 86, 5. Ella Turner (Mt. Carmel) 88, 6. Mallory Richardson (Olney) 92, 7. Sarah Ireland (Mt. Carmel) 95. *-won a playoff
Second Team:Â 8. Peyton Lindley (Newton) 97, 9. Emma Hefferman (Olney) 99, 10. Addie Stewart (Robinson) 101, 11. Aubrie Weidner (Olney) 102.
This story has been edited.
