MISTWOOD GOLF CLUB, on Renwick Road in Romeoville, home of the Illinois Women’s Open and McWethy’s Tavern, see Mistwoodgc.com for tee times and more. ______________________________________________________________________
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS Editor and Director of Content, follow Rory to Mistwood Golf Club, Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.
Alexandra Farnsworth has won the 23rd Phil Kosin, Illinois Women’s Open at Mistwood Golf Club.
Farnsworth who is heading into her senior season at Vanderbilt University in Nashville Tennessee, carded her second 5 under par 67 in the tournament, to defeat Northwestern Universities Hanna Kim by two shots.
Farnsworth had rounds of 67-74-67 to win the title. Farnsworth says her college career is filled with tournaments of where she finished in “second or third places finishes.” Last year she was the Commodores #1 player and advanced to the NCAA Regional’s as an individual, but did not qualify for the NCAA national championships at Rich Harvest Farms.
Farnsworth said she played well in round 1, but struggled in round 2. Sitting at the top of leader board after round 1, Farnsworth opened round 2 with a birdie on the first hole, but could not make another the remainder of the round. She had three bogeys, and rest pars in route to her 74, that left her just out of the final group. In fact her playing partners in Wednesdays third and final round finished 2nd and tied for third place.
Click here to hear interviews with champion Alexandra Farnsworth, runner up Hannah Kim and T-3 finisher Samantha Postillion.
Alexandra Farnsworth with the Phil Kosin Illinois Women’s Trophy on the stone bridge at Mistwood GC.
Farnsworths called her win a breakthrough that was needed, after coming close in college tournaments so many times.
Farnsworth learned about the Illinois Women’s Open from her former assistant coach at Vanderbilt, Amy Neff who is a past two-time champion of the IWO.
Since Farnsworth is an amateur, she did not receive the first place money of $5000.00 dollars.
In second place two shots back of Farnsworth was Kim, who had it going early on the front nine, but made a key double bogey on the short par 4, 10th hole that in the end kept her out of a potential playoff with Farnsworth.
Kim said,” this tournament for me is a tune up for the U.S. Women’s Amateur that will be played in my hometown of Chula Vista California, which I’m looking forward to. So I’m glad I could make it out to play here.”
Kim said she was pretty drained after the NCAA Championships at Rich Harvest Farms where her Northwestern team finished second in the country. Kim said she took two week off before playing in the Women’s Western Golf Association amateur championship at River Forest Country Club in June. She lost in a semi-final match at the WWGA Amateur.
Samantha Postillion the former University of Illinois golfer and daughter of Illinois Women’s Open Champion Kerry Postillion ( 3-time winner), finished third three shots back of Farnsworth at 5 under par. Postillion tied for low pro with Canada’s Vivian Tsui in third place. Tsui shot a 5 under par 67 in round 1, but could do no better than a pair of even par rounds in round 2 and 3.
The first and second place money was split and Tsui and Postillion each earned checks of $4,200.
University of Illinois women’s golf team member Dana Gattone of Addison was the low finisher that is also a Illinois resident, when she carded a one under par 71 in the final round good enough for fifth place.
This years field was up 14 players to a number of 78, from 2016 when 64 players tee’d off in round 1. For more information on Mistwood Golf Club, see Mistwoodgc.com.