THE FRENCH LICK RESORT and the Pete Dye Golf Course, home of the Senior LPGA Championship. Play where the pro’s play, book your golf trip get away at Frenchlick.com ______________________________________________________________________
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook. On the 18th hole at the Pete Dye Course at French Lick, home of the Sr. LPGA Championship.
Round 1 of the Senior LPGA got underway with warm and sunny skies, and it finished the same way. The surprise was that scores started off hot and then cooled off.
So why was the field backing up as the day went on, especially with temperatures in the 70’s, unlike last year when Round 1 went from the low 50’s to the upper 40’s.
When the day finished Jill McGill had charged to a first round 66, and leads by 4 shots after 18 holes.
McGill is one of just five players under par, with the others being Moira Dunn-Bohls, and Rosie Jones at 2 under par. Maria McBride and Audra Burks are at 1 under par.
Defending champion Laura Davies was 3 over par after just six holes, and she had the company of Juli Inkster who had the same score after six holes.
U.S. Senior Women’s Open Champion Helen Alfredsson, was grinding along at even par, with 2017 Sr. LPGA Champion Trish Johnson a shotback at +1. So midway through Round 1, the favorites were not getting much going.
McWethy’s Tavern is part of Mistwood Golf Club, enjoy McWethy’s in the new Mistwood Clubhouse. Mistwood of Romeoville (815)-254-3333 or Mistwoodgc.com
Mistwood golf club professional Nicole Jeray shot a round of +4 (76), that included three birdies.
“I hit the ball good,” said Jeray. “The score I ended up with, was the worst score I could have had. I had good looks for birdies especially on the front nine, they just didn’t go in.”
Jeray started off solid. Blasting her drive down the center of the fairway on the first hole, well past her two playing partners. She then hit her approach shot into the first green, and left herself a 12 foot putt for birdie. Then missed it.
With her birdie on the 3rd hole, Jeray soon ended up -1 through four holes. That left her in a tie for 2nd place. Bogeys on holes 5 and 6, dropped back into 22nd place. When a double bogey on 10, and a bogey on 11 pushed her to +4.
Mistwood professional Nicole Jeray in the Mistwood Golf Dome in Bolingbrook on Rt. 53. The dome is now open for indoor golf. And so is Mcwethy’s Sports Bar.
Jeray responsed with what she called “a nice birdie” on 12. Then after a solid up and down for par on 13, she made bogies on 14 and 15.
“I finally made a putt on 17,” said Jeray. “With that late birdie I had a good finish. But with all the work I have done at Mistwood, I feel my best golf of this tournament, is ahead of me the next two days.”
As she took pride in a round that could have got away, but just left her in a T-24th, she had to check on her girls. Jeray coaches high school golf at Nazereth and it appeared that two of her players might be headed downstate. A tournament that she would love to attend with her players.
Click here to hear interviews with leader Jill McGill and 2017 Sr. LPGA champion Trish Johnson.
Alfredsson, Inkster and Johnson all fought back to end at even par (72). Davies dug in and was 1 under par over the last 12 holes to finish at +2 (74).
Round 2 on Tuesday is expected to be played in great weather, before temperatures cool-off on Wednesday into the upper 60’s. Click in for our recap of Round 2. tomorrow night.