University of Illinois Springfield golf coach Michael Leotta announced today that Elaine Grant has signed to play for the Prairie Stars in 2022-23.
 
"I am thrilled to welcome Elaine to UIS and our women's program," said Leotta. "When I watched Elaine play, I was really impressed with her focus, competitiveness, and confident mindset to accomplish her goals. She was the number one on the high school boys teams playing from their yardages. She will be ready for the college game and I am confident she will help build this team into a top program. We can't wait to have her in Springfield and see her grow as a player and person."
 
Grant is from Chillicothe, Illinois and attended Illinois Valley Central High School. She was a four-time all-conference girls golfer. She also earned four girls golf all-star team selections from the Peoria Journal Star.
 
Grant had top-five finishes at all four of her conference meets, including winning the individual championship as a junior. That year, she shot a career-best 68 at the University of Illinois Blue Course. At the state level, she finished fifth at the 2021 championships. She also won a regional championship in 2020, was 15th at state in 2019, and eighth-place as a freshman in 2018.
 
In boys golf, Grant was a four-year member of the team, and was captain and the team's number one golfer for three years. She helped the program win the team championship at the 2021 Princeton Invitational, and she finished fourth individually at the 2021 IVC Boys Invitational.