The Illinois
Women's Open is a three-day, 54-hole state championship of golf
administered by the Chicagoland Golf Publishing Co. of Naperville,
Illinois, and the non-profit Chicago Friends of Golf, Inc.
The
tournament, founded in 1995 by Chicagoland Golf editor and publisher
Phil Kosin, is open to female-at-birth professionals and amateurs aged
17 and over who reside within the states of Illinois, Michigan,
Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Special age
and residency exemptions are also considered.
The traditional
dates of the Illinois Women's Open are the Thursday, Friday and
Saturday immediately following the week of the British Open
Championship in late July. The
event's home course is the upland links-style Mistwood Golf Club in
Romeoville, Illinois, designed by Ray Hearn.
Each year's
champion has her name added to the prestigious Elaine Rosenthal
Memorial Trophy, which honors one of Chicago and the nation's early
women's golf pioneers. Ms. Rosenthal played in many championships in
the late 1910s through the mid-1930s, representing the Chicago area and
playing out of Ravisloe Country Club. She
volunteered her services as part of "The Dixie Kids" a foursome of
talented young golfers who barnstormed the United States in 1917-18
playing exhibition matches to raise money for the American Red Cross – Rosenthal and
Alexa Stirling were the women; Perry Adair and Bobby Jones were the men.
The 2008 Illinois Women's Open is scheduled for July 24, 25, 26.
About the IWO
The
Illinois Women’s Open is a 54-hole stroke play event played according
to the Rules of Golf as set forth by the United States Golf
Association. Following 36 holes of play, the field is cut to the low 40
percent plus ties, assuming a full field of 99 players. Minimum purse
based on full field is $12,000 – including $1,000 awarded to the Low
Professional.
Players must declare professional or amateur status prior to start of
event. Pros will receive cash, amateurs merchandise certificates at a
store or pro shop chosen from a selected list. In the case of ties, the
prizes will be divided equally. USGA rules of Amateur Status apply.
In
the event of a tie for the Championship, there will be a four-hole,
total-stroke playoff. If the contestants remain tied after the four
holes, the playoff will revert to sudden death.
The
field will be limited to 99 players. If more than 99 entries are
received or if need arises, a qualifying event will be held. The IWO
reserves the right to extend special exemptions, at the tournament
committee’s discretion. Entries are subject to rejection at any time
(including during the event) at the discretion of the IWO.
Eligibility Entries
are open to female-at-birth professionals and amateurs who reside
(or are currently enrolled in college) in Illinois, Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan. Must be 17
years of age as of the date of the first championship round to play.
Younger players and players from outside the eight-state area may apply
in writing for a special exemption.
Forms and Fees Entry
forms will be available after May 15. All who participated in the
previous year’s event will be notified by email of their availability, downloadable from this site. Mail completed entry form with $180 entry fee (check or money
order) made payable to Chicagoland Golf. Send it to PO Box 4116,
Wheaton IL 60189. Any entries (if any)
accepted after the deadline will cost $200. No refunds for withdrawals
or no-shows after the entry deadline. If you have any questions about
the tournament or need an application, call Chicagoland Golf at (630)
719-1000. If you have specific questions about the golf course, call
Mistwood Golf Club (815) 254-3333. One practice round included in
tournament fee (subject to availability).
2007 Illinois Women's Open champion Nicole Schachner
Mistwood GC owner Jim McWethy presents 2007 champion Nicole Shachner with both the Rosenthal trophy (rear) and the traditional Veggie Basket, premium vegetables grown on the McWethy Family Farm in Michigan.
Champions Year, name (a-denote amateur), winning score At Mistwood Golf Club, Romeoville 2007 a-Nicole Shachner, Libertyville 215 (-1)* * won 10-hole playoff 2006 a-Jenna Pearson, Wheaton 208 (-8) 2005 a-Annika Welander, Winnetka 207 (-9) 2004 Sarah Johnston, St. Charles 212 (-4) 2003 Nicole Jeray, Berwyn 212 (-4) 2002 Maria Long, Naperville 217 (-1) 2001 a-Emily Gilley, Flossmoor, 223 (+7) 2000 a-Emily Gilley, Flossmoor 217 (+1) 1999 a-Kerry Postillion, Burr Ridge 214 (-2)
Illinois Women's Open notes & footers 1995 • The inaugural 1995 Illinois Women's Open (IWO) was shortened to 36 holes due to cloud-to-ground lightning and torrential rain during the first round. None of the groups had completed nine holes, so the entire round was wiped out.
1996 • The original July 17-19, 1996 Illinois Women's Open was washed out when 16-inch rains flooded the Chicago area. The golf course, built partially on a flood plain, had over five feet of water on seven holes. The IWO was rescheduled for August 14, 15 and 17.
1997 • In
1997 the golf course was blasted with a 110-degree heat index and
tropical humidity for the final round. Amateur Kerry Postillion, the
only player in the field who eschewed use of a roofed power cart, set
an IWO record when with eight holes remaining, owned a whopping
nine-shot lead over her nearest chaser. However, her huge lead quickly
disappeared when she began suffering from heat exhaustion; she and
runner-up Diane Daugherty ended in a tie after 54 holes. Postillion
bounced back to win a three-hole, aggregate-score playoff with a
one-over-par 12 to Daugherty's 13.
2005 • Annika
Wellander of Winnetka became the youngest IWO champion when she won
three days past her 19th birthday. She held off a fierce back-nine
charge from 20-year LPGA Tour veteran Allison Finney (also a Winnetka
native) to win the title by one stroke. Both Welander and Finney's
54-hole scores broke course and tournament records.
2007 • Sarah Johnston is now playing the LPGA Tour under her married name of Sarah Lynn Sargent.
2007 • The 2007 Illinois Women's Open ended with a state-record 10-hole playoff. At the end of regulation amateur Nicole Schachner was tied with professional Jenna Pearson at 1-under 215 (Pearson missed a 15-foot eagle putt on the final hole of regulation for an outright one-stroke victory). After the duo played a four-hole, aggregate-score playoff over holes 1-2-3-3 as determined by the rules and were still tied, the format reverted to sudden-death on Mistwood's 528-yard par-5 third hole. The twosome played the hole five more times with the same result as the first two times through during the four-hole playoff -- seven straight two-putt pars. Finally on the 10th hole of the playoff and sixth of sudden death, Schachner two putted from 13 feet and Pearson missed a 7-footer to extend the playoff. Also notable is both the first and second rounds began with shotgun starts for the first time in tournament history -- necessitated by the presence of severe thunderstorms and cloud-to-ground lightning in the area.
