Modglin wins Billie Ray Craig tournament

Posted June 07, 2016 11:00 pm

By Jim Beers Contributing Writer

Bailey Modglin, a Chester High School golf standout, started his summer off right with a win at the Billie Ray Craig Junior Memorial Golf Tournament on Tuesday.

The Pinckneyville tournament is held in memory of former Pinckneyville golfer Billie Ray Craig.

Modglin, who had a great 2015 golf season at Chester High School as a junior last fall, has been on the Chester Country Club golf course every day since school let out May 26.

"I have played golf every day or at least been on the course at the putting green or driving range since school ended," Modglin said. "I am excited about my upcoming season as a Yellow Jacket golfer and intend to make the most of it by working very hard all summer."

"I encouraged Bailey to enter this tournament as a way to face other golfers his age in preparation of his final year of high school golf," said CHS assistant coach Paul Zemlyn.

Zemlyn noted that tournaments like the Billy Ray Craig involve golfers who are usually the best in their geographical areas.

"It was good for Bailey to face these young men in an individual tournament setting," Zemlyn said. "He responded well too and won his age group."

There were four different age divisions in the tournament. There were both boys and girls divisions for ages 10-11, 12-13, 14-15, and 16-18.

Modglin played in the top age group in which there were eight golfers.

For the 18-hole event, Modglin shot 37 on the front nine and 42 on the back nine for a total score of 79.

Wiatt Jennings from Woodlawn finished second with a score of 80. He had a match that was exactly the opposite of Modglin's in shooting 43 on the front nine holes and 37 on the back nine.

"I was quite proud to beat Wyatt," Modglin said. "He is a great golfer. I played against him at the 2015 IHSA state golf tournament last fall.

"One stroke made the difference today and thank goodness it was to my advantage."Modglin had a solid year for Chester as a junior, finishing 94th in the state.

"We played 54 holes in three days at state and the weather conditions were terrible," Modglin said. "Temperatures were in the 40s and the wind was blowing hard. I was happy to finish 94th."

Modglin also made the Black Diamond Conference All-Conference team in 2015 and was selected to the All-Metro team.

In addition, Bailey made the 2015 All-South golf team.

"Bailey works very hard and his work ethics can't be beat," Zemlyn said. "He will undoubtedly be the Chester Yellow Jackets captain this fall and has high hopes of leading the boy's squad to bigger and better accomplishments."

"I hope to do everything I can to be a good leader this year," Modglin said. "I have set a goal to accomplish the same feats that I did this year and make the state tournament."

Modglin has aspirations of playing golf at the collegiate level and admits his educational goals will definitely play a major role in helping him to determine the college of his choice.

However, he noted that any schools that might offer scholarship opportunities would heavily weigh into the decision-making process.

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