Meet the 2023 Peoria Journal Star girls golfer of the year and the all-area team

History was made during the 2023 high school girls golf season.

Peoria Notre Dame took home a Class 1A third-place state trophy, bringing home hardware for the first time ever. This wrapped up a campaign where the Irish won conference, regional and sectional championships.

Here is the 2023 Journal Star girls golfer of the year, who heads the six-player JS all-area team. The POY is listed first, followed by the five all-area picks in alphabetical order:

Peoria at state: How Peoria Notre Dame regrouped to make school history at IHSA girls golf state finals

Ella Coulter, Peoria Notre Dame

Coulter picks up back-to-back Journal Star girls golfer of the year honors following a stellar senior season. She finished eighth at the Class 1A state meet, shooting a second-round 4-over 76. Her final prep round was highlighted by two birdies and 10 pars at Decatur's Red Tail Run Golf Course. Coulter helped the Irish take third place as a team. She was also a regional and sectional medalist for the Irish, who were also regional and sectional team champs. In the Big 12 Conference tournament, Coulter was the individual medalist.

Natalie Downing, Canton

Downing made a strong push in the final weeks of the season. The junior made the cut for the final day of the 1A state finals. She placed 70th with her second-round 107 that included three pars. Downing was an all-Mid-Illini Conference first-teamer after tying for second at the league tournament, carding an 85.

Morgan Grant, Illinois Valley Central

Grant nearly ended her career with a top-10 finish at the 1A state finals. She birdied three holes — the second, 11th and 18th holes — to wrap up her final round with a 5-over 77. This gave her a tied for 11th finish. The senior shot a 4-over 76 to win the Illini Prairie Conference championship by 11 strokes.

Addy Heineke, Roanoke-Benson

Heineke left a lasting impression with her senior season performance. She was tied for 57th with a second-round 92 at the 1A state finals. Her second-place finish at a 1A regional helped propel Heinke into the sectional. The Tri-County Conference champion finished tied for sixth at the sectional for state final berth.

Mackenzie Howard, Peoria Notre Dame

Howard will likely take over as the Irish's top golfer next season. The junior took tied for 16th at the 1A state finals with a second-round 6-over 78. Her round included 11 pars in a row as part of a key member of the state third-place finishers. She was the regional runner-up behind Coulter, then took fifth at the sectional.

Sydney Hubner, Pekin

Hubner made it a memorable farewell to her prep career. The senior took medalist honors to help the Dragons win a Class 2A regional. She also won the Mid-Illini Conference tournament thanks to parring the final five holes. Hubner shot a round of 79, winning the conference crown by six strokes.

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

Journal Star girls golfers of the year

• 2023: Ella Coulter, Peoria Notre Dame

• 2022: Ella Coulter, Peoria Notre Dame

• 2021: Alison Pacocha, Eureka

• 2020: Alison Pacocha, Eureka

• 2019: Alison Pacocha, Eureka

• 2018: Alison Pacocha and Carolyn Pacocha, Eureka

• 2017: Carolyn Pacocha, Eureka

• 2016: Taylor Nesselroad, Galesburg

• 2015: Erica Kerr, Richwoods; Amanda Greenan, Limestone

• 2014: Madison Hill, Pekin

• 2013: Madison Hill, Pekin

• 2012: Taylor Thompson, Knoxville

• 2011: Lexi Petersen, North Fulton

• 2010: Iben Thuroe, Mid-County

• 2009: Jessica Knepp, El Paso-Gridley

• 2008: Vanessa Phillips, Metamora

• 2007: Keegan Ryan, Morton

• 2006: Jessica Parmenter, Peoria Christian

• 2005: Jessica Parmenter, Peoria Christian

• 2004: Carrie Riordan, Hall

• 2003: Kristen Stolt, Galesburg

• 2002: Michelle Deiss, Pekin

• 2001: Emily VonFeldt, Metamora

• 2000: Emily VonFeldt, Metamora

• 1999: Emily VonFeldt, Metamora

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: 2023 Peoria Journal Star girls golfer of the year and all-area team