FIRESTONE COUNTRY CLUB in Akron Ohio, home of this weeks Senior Players Championship. Three courses 54 holes, play where the pro’s play. Clubcorp.com/clubs  _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or Facebook/LinkedIn and or Instagram.

Barrington’s Mara Janess holds the Icely Cup after winning the 94th Women’s Western Junior at Aurora Country Club.

(Reporting from Aurora)

Mara Janess still has a year to go at Barrington High School, but her college of choice should fire up it’s fight song.

Because Michigan’s ‘Hail to Victors’ was very appropriate, after Janess won the 94th Women’s Western Junior Championship at the Aurora Country Club.

Janess defeated Katie Scheck 5 & 4 in the title match. Scheck of Greensboro Georgia (Reynolds Lake Oconee), will attend Penn State this fall.

In the championship match that was played dodging the raindrops, Janess went 3 UP at the turn, was 4 UP after 10 holes, and 5 UP as she walked off the 11th green.

Mara Janess studies her approach shot on the 13th hole.

So three holes later she stood on the 14th green, getting a hug from Scheck as the reality of her win started to take hold.

But even though Janess won the Illinois High School State championship in 2019, she called winning the Women’s Western Junior, the biggest win of her career.

Because it was a win she almost didn’t get. In her Round of 16 match, Janess was 4 DN after six holes. But a key approach shot on the seventh hole, that cut the margin to 3DN, was a turning point that turned into a 2 UP win on the 18th green.

When asked how good Mara Janess Champion of the 94 Women’s Western Amateur sounded Janess said, “It feels amazing, and I’ve worked really hard lately. I’ve been at the top of a leaderboard at a few events. But it feels good to finally win.”

Katie Scheck hits her drive on the 13th hole.

Scheck came into the championship match after a solid performance in the semi-finals, defeating medalist Shannyn Vogler 7 & 5. Scheck quickly fell 1 DN after two holes. But she rebounded quickly winning 8 of the next 11 holes.

But Scheck could not get that kind of momentum going in the championship match against Janess.

CLICK HERE to hear the full interview with WWGA Junior champion Mara Janess.

WWGA President Cece Durbin (L)-Mara Janess (M)-WGA President Kevin Buggy (R).

Both Janess and Scheck will part of the field in next month’s Women’s Western Amateur at Park Ridge Country Club, July 19-24. But due to a conflict with her USGA Women’s Amateur qualifier. Janess will not be able to compete in next months Illinois Women’s Open, at Mistwood Golf Club.

The 2022 Women’s Western Junior Championship returns to south suburban Prestwick Country Club. Nancy Lopez who won the WWGA-Junior three times (1972-1973-1974), won her first title (1972) at Prestwick.

So for more information on the Women’s Western Golf Association and it’s tournaments, visit wwga.org.