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Saturday
Jul242010

Fouch wins Illinois Women's Open in playoff over Jeray

Special to Golf In Chicago by Joanne Miller
Writing from Romeoville, Illinois
Saturday, July 24, 2010

Allison Fouch can handle adversity on the golf course.

That's clear from the final day of the 16th Phil Kosin Illinois Women's Open. Fouch, an LPGA tour member, held off the charge of Berwyn's Nicole Jeray, beating her in a sudden-death playoff after waiting out the third weather delay in as many days at soaked Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville.

The final round came down to Fouch and Jeray, who tied at 1-over-par 217 after 54 holes, distancing themselves from the field. Jeray, a two-time IWO winner, scored 2-under-par 70 to catch Fouch, who scored even par 72. Each parred the first hole in the sudden-death playoff, but Fouch grabbed the title and the $2,500 first prize when she nestled her approach shot on the par-4 second hole close to the pin and two putted for par after Jeray flew the green on her approach. She failed to save par from the rough, and Fouch was the champion.

Fouch, an LPGA regular, wasn't eligible for this week's Evian Masters in France. She's played in 9 events this year and made three cuts. Her best LPGA finish was a tie for second at the Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill in 2008. She's also won the Michigan PGA Women’s Open.

“Schedule permitting I’ll be here [to defend in 2011]," Fouch said. "Mistwood is a fun track that gave us a lot of opportunities to hit wedge and make birdies.”

Jeray fought hard to win. The tournament has a special meaning to her being a past champion, as well as a friend of the late Phil Kosin.

“I’m disappointed," Jeray said. "I played decent today and just didn’t make anything. I really wanted to win it for him [Phil Kosin] especially with his family here and it being the first year after he passed away. I was here seven years ago, and was two for two (winning in 1998 and 2003) and was all set for being three for three.”

Kosin's name was added to the IWO title because he founded the tournament in 1995, supporting it financially and organizationally.

Both Fouch and Jeray had plenty of opportunities to win the tournament. Each posted two birdies on the front nine. The back nine proved a little more difficult as both players hit into the water, Fouch on 15, and Jeray on 16. Heading down the 18th fairway tied for the lead, Jeray found her ball in a divot for her third shot into the green. She hit it short of the green in the first cut and then had a 30-foot uphill putt for birdie. She hit it short giving her 5-feet for par, but it was Fouch’s turn at birdie with a 15-foot downhill putt. Fouch just missed the putt and tapped in for par. The pressure was on Jeray to make her putt to force a playoff. She sank it, and with darkness looming the players headed to the first tee to begin the sudden death playoff.

Yet another weather delay affected play on the final day. Three inches of rain fell in just one hour early Saturday morning making the course unplayable and caused a 2 hour 40 minute delay in the start of play. There was a delay or interruption each day, for a total of about 5 hours 45 minutes of delays, but the Mistwood grounds crew was able to get the course in shape after each downpour.

Amateur Katherine Hepler of downstate Lincoln, a 15-year-old playing in her third IWO, earned low amateur honors, scoring 1-under 71 on Saturday for a total of 4-over 220 and sole possession of third place. First round leader Michelle Ellis of Chicago Heights, finished in fourth place at 7-over 223.

16th Phil Kosin Illinois Women's Open
Final, Mistwood GC, 6,000 yards, par 72

*Allison Fouch, Indianapolis, 70-75-72-217
Nicole Jeray, Berwyn, 72-75-70-217
* Fouch won sudden-death playoff, 4-4 to 4-5
a-Katherine Hepler, Lincoln, 76-73-71-220
Michelle Ellis, Chicago Heights, 70-77-76-223
a-Samantha Sloan, Lansing, 70-79-76-225
a-Nikki Miller, Waukegan, 72-78-75-225
a-Carly Werwie, Kenosha, Wis., 76-79-72-227
a-Kris Yoo, Schaumburg, 72-81-75-228
a-Rebecca Lederhausen, Hinsdale, 74-81-74-229
a-Ann Vrdolyak, Flossmoor, 78-77-74-229
Kendra Hanson, Forest City, Iowa, 77-75-78-230
a-Amy Meier, Rochester Hills, Mich,, 75-79-77-231
a-Mary Kay Thanos-Zordani, Chicago, 82-76-73-231
Jessica Schneider, Elgin, 74-81-77-232
a-Elizabeth Nagel, DeWitt, Mich., 76-79-77-232
Jenna Pearson, Wheaton, 81-76-75-232
a-Nora Lucas, Glenview, 75-80-78-233
a-Kaela Klune, Itasca, 77-79-77-233
a-Kristi Cardwell, Kokomo, Ind., 73-82-79-234
a-Michele Nash, Indianapolis, 78-77-79-234
a-Erika Oldenkamp, Hinsdale, 78-78-78-234
a-Alex Lederhausen, Hinsdale, 73-85-76-234
a-Alexis Bennett, Rockford, 77-78-80-235
a-Kim Hunley, Aurora, 75-83-78-236
a-Kristin Paulson, Ames, Iowa, 74-84-79-237
a-Christine Meier, Rochester Hills, Mich., 73-84-81-238
a-Meg Gilley, Flossmoor, 78-79-84-241
Allison Finney, Winnetka, 78-77-150-WD
a-Jamie Lavin, Deerfield, 80-75-150-WD
a-Hailey Koschmann, Lake Forest, 74-78-152-WD

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