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Sam Burns of the United States ball lands inches from the hole on the 18th green during the third round of the TOUR Championship 2025 at East Lake Golf Club on August 23.
In a stunning display of skill and composure, Oswego Co-op sophomore Alli Wiertel fired a course-record 59 at Whitetail Ridge during the Plainfield North Invitational–capturing medalist honors with a commanding seven-shot victory. She carded an incredible 11-under-par, complete with 10 birdies (seven on the back nine) and an eagle that sealed her spectacular performance.
In golf, scoring a round in the 50s is rare even at the professional level. Wiertel’s feat showcased precision and mental strength, especially at her competitive age. Her team, Oswego Co-op, finished a strong second overall, reflecting the bubbling talent within the program.
“I was feeling pretty calm,” Wiertel said. “Just knew that I could do it. It was a shorter hole, so I was trying to drive the green–I was not trying to play it safe. I just tried to drive the green, chipped it close, and I was able to make a putt. I was pretty calm just trying to do what I knew I could.”
Rising Star in the Suburbs
As a sophomore from Oswego, Wiertel’s achievement has sent ripples across her local community and beyond. It’s not just the result, but the method–stringing together birdie after birdie, staying in the zone when others might feel the pressure; that makes this round extraordinary. As one local outlet put it, “Most golfers aim to break 100. Alli Wiertel? She broke 60!”
Alli Wiertel, a sophomore golfer at Oswego High School in Illinois, recently shot an incredible tournament round that has an entire community buzzing. https://t.co/Az1B61Ak9F
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 29, 2025
For a high school golfer, maintaining composure while every hole counts–especially during the back nine–is daunting. Yet Wiertel was seemingly unfazed. Pieces shared across social media platforms highlight the buzz around her performance and how swiftly word of her record-breaking round spread.
“I would say that Alli is a very special golfer,” her high school golf coach Brian Chandler said. “Everything she does on the golf course is calculated. Everything she does on the golf course is based on her previous experiences and her previous opportunities to play competitive golf, and she does a great job carrying that over into her high school rounds.”
What Lies Ahead for Wiertel
Shots like these are more than just lines on a scorecard; they’re statements. Breaking 60, even at a high school level, indicates a rare blend of technique, consistency, and mental poise. It puts Wiertel in elite company, even if unofficially. In the golf world, rounds under 60 are known as the “holy grail,” something even many pros never achieve.
Looking ahead, this moment could be a pivotal launchpad in Wiertel’s athletic journey. Scouts and college recruiters value such standout performances. If she continues this trajectory, her name could soon appear among the ranks of top junior golfers nationally. Though we haven’t seen more on her season thus far, the local buzz suggests this story is just beginning; not ending.
“I’d love to win state,” Wiertel said. “That’s definitely my goal this year. I know I can do it, so I’d like to make it happen … hopefully break the state record. That’d be cool, too.”
Alyssa Polczynski Alyssa Polczynski is a multimedia journalist covering Major League Baseball for Heavy.com. She has experience as an editorial producer for MLB.com and contributed to the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). More about Alyssa Polczynski
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