The Phil Kosin Illinois Women's Open Returns to Mistwood Golf Club July 31 - August 2

The Phil Kosin Illinois Women's Open (IWO), the premier women's golf event in Illinois, returns to the newly renovated Mistwood Golf Club July 31 - August 2. The Ray Hearn designed course in Romeoville has hosted the top event for women since 1999.

BMO Harris returns as the sponsor for the four-day event, which starts with a pro-am on July 30. Three tournament rounds follow, after which the champion will be crowned.

"We are very excited to have these top female players coming back to Mistwood to participate in this marquee event," said Dan Phillips, director of golf at the Mistwood Golf Club. "This years event will be very exciting for the women as they will experience several new challenges on the course with the renovations and the new Performance Center."

Some of the top women golfers in Illinois will be participating in this year's event, including the return of Diane Daugherty, who won the inaugural event at Odyssey in 1995. The 2006 and 2011 champion and Symetra Tour member Jenna Pearson from Wheaton, and University of Illinois star Samantha Postillan will also be competing in the field.

Other top local players teeing it up include Brittany Johnston from Plainfield who is a current member and champion on the LPGA Symetra Tour (former Futures Tour). Local Bolingbrook amateur Jessica Yuen will also compete.

In addition to the top local players, the leading event at Mistwood is also attracting some of the top players around the country from places like North Carolina, Texas, Georgia, Iowa, as well as internationally from Canada and New Zealand.

"We are very proud with the reputation we have developed for the IWO," continued Phillips. "The new changes and renovations to the golf course along with the tournament operators have garnered high praise from the women and the word is obviously spreading around the country, which is exciting."

Mistwood owner Jim McWethy closed the course on a couple of occasions the past few years, to facilitate Ray Hearn's renovation work.

The major improvements the women will experience this year include renovation work on each of Mistwood's 18-holes in terms of shot value and strategy. The most noticeable will be at the par-5 third hole where the green has been relocated and a double fairway added creating an exciting risk-reward opportunity. In addition, 20 new-stacked sod-wall Scottish bunkers were added, as well as the repositioning of bunkers, and fescue grasses.

"The new bunkers will be more in play and closer to the greens than they were in the past,'' said Phillips. "It should be a very exciting event with the new renovations and changes that we have made to the entire facility."

The women will also be impressed with the new Mistwood Performance Center and practice facility. The new facility, with its Scottish themed architecture and leading swing technology, will serve as the gathering area for the competitors during the event.