Ferrell, Gattone share first round lead in Illinois Women's Open

Writing from Romeoville, Illinois

Monday, July 18, 2016

One day into the 22nd Phil Kosin Illinois Women’s Open, and it’s shaping up as an Illinois vs. Wisconsin showdown.

Two Fighting Illini team members and a Wisconsin player fought for the lead in Monday’s first round at Mistwood Golf Club. Wisconsin senior Brooke Ferrell and Illinois junior Dana Gattone share the lead with 4-under-par 68s, while Illinois senior Stephanie Miller is a stroke behind after a 3-under 69.

Eight of the 63 players in the field broke par and another three matched it on a warm day with little wind.

Gattone, of Addison, speckled her career-best 68 with five birdies, with only one bogey staining it. The highlight was the final birdie, a 3-foot downhill putt on the par-3 17th, for it set her up to par the last and finally score less than 69.

“I feel really confident out here,” Gattone said. “It sets up good for me, and for my course management.”

Gattone has a secret weapon for the latter, a pro-style yardage book a friend made for her a few years ago with more distances and details than in the regular yardage book the course sells.

Miller’s 69, which featured four birdies on the back nine, was achieved by “staying patient,” she said. “I just hit some good shots. The key here is putting the ball in good position. I missed three fairways, but when I missed a fairway, I missed in the right spot.”

Miller, who lives in Elgin, came off a family vacation to Alaska on Saturday and only hit a few balls practicing on Sunday.

Ferrell, of Edgerton, Wis., tied for second last year, while Gattone finished fifth and Miller tied for 22nd. Madasyn Pettersen of Rockford, last year’s winner, is in an AJGA tournament this week.

Lindsay Dodovich of Chicago authored the shot of the day, a hole-in-one on the 17th hole, which was a 160-yard test. A 6-iron was the weapon.

“I didn’t see it go in,” Dodovich said, noting how the green falls off to the back left, the pin position for the first round. “I hit it right at my aim point, to the right of the flag. My dad saw it go in.”

– Tim Cronin

Leaders

a-Brooke Ferrell, Edgerton, Wis. 68

a-Dana Gattone, Addison 68

a-Stephanie Miller, Elgin 69

a-Kelly Grassel, Chesterton, Ind. 71

a-Lexi Harkins, Crystal Lake 71

Ember Schuldt, Sterling 71

Frederique Bruell, Shaker Heights, Ohio 71

Jenna Pearson, Wheaton 71

a-Siyun Liu, Shanghai, China 72

a-Taylor Thompson, Galesburg 72

a-Grace Kil, Arlington Heights 72