The Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville now one of Chicago’s top public golf courses, is hosting the Illinois Women’s Open starting today. When the lady professionals and top amateurs are done, it’s open for public play. The Western Amateur coming to Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove August 5-8, the title match on Saturday afternoon the 8th. Defending Champion Beau Hossler is in the field. Thewesternamateur.com for more details, free admission and parking. The Mt. Prospect Golf Club will reopen from renovation this Saturday August 1st with a special shotgun grand opening outing. Call the pro shop at (847)-259-4200 for details. Golfers on Golf Radio live at Mt. Prospect this coming Sunday at 9 AM.                                                                                               ______________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. With winning IWO Professional McKenzie Lyng.

The 21st Phil Kosin Illinois Women’s Open tee’s off today at the Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville.

This years championship is up for grabs as several recent past champions are missing from the field. Defending champion Emily Collins is oversea’s and some other recent champs are pulling their game together for this weeks Milwaukee Symetra Tour event or the LPGA Q-school in California next week.

Even local LPGA star Nicole Jeray who played last week on the LPGA Tour in Michigan sporting a Mistwood bag and visor, is not entered.

Mistwoodgc.com The 21st Phil Kosin Illinois Women’s Open.

As a result, a slightly new crop of contenders has emerged.

Past champion Jenna Pearson leads the field into Mistwood, but while Pearson has played well in recent years, she hasn’t won since the Ray Hearn renovation was completed.

Pearson will have some good company from the professional ranks in trying to win the trophy. The winner of the IWO Pro-am Mckenzie Lyng is locked in, and so is Ember Schuldt from Sterling, who carried her team to a second place finish in yesterday’s pro-am. Katie Pius who has played well in recent years, will play again in spite of just finding out she is a few months pregnant.

The new Mistwood Clubhouse is not yet complete, but should be by late September.

Another name the could be right at the top is a familiar one, Postillion. Whule past champion Kerry Postillion will sit this one out, her daughter Samantha who lost in a playoff in 2012 to Samantha Troyanovich, is back and now as a professional after wrapping up her college career at Illinois.

Allyssa Ferrell who hails from Steve Stricker’s neighborhood in Wisconsin, and was among the early leaders last year returns as well.

On the amateur side, Elgin’s Stephanie Miller who is playing at Illinois, and lead for two rounds in 2012 when she was still in high school, is playing well after just qualifying for the 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur. Kris Yoo from Schaumburg who is playing at the University of Wisconsin, has played Mistwood under par before, and is another amateur to watch.

The field is down to 66 players after 2 players WD’d on Sunday. The first tee time is at 7AM for all three rounds. The Gog Blog will have coverage all 3 rounds. Stay clicked in.