Northwestern University Athletics
Emily Gilley Wins Illinois Women's Open Again
7/29/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
July 29, 2001
ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Northwestern senior-to-be Emily Gilley became the first repeat champion in the Illinois Women's Open golf tournament Saturday.
Gilley established a four-stroke lead after the first day on Thursday, and won by that margin at Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville. But her road to the repeat wasn't a smooth one, as Gilley's lead dwindled to one shot over Beth Hermes of Dixon eight holes into the final round. Hermes is the sister of Christie Hermes, a teammate of Gilley's at Northwestern.
After shooting 6-over-par 42 on Mistwood's front nine, though, Gilley steadied herself with three birdies coming in to shoot a 76. Her 7-over-par 223 (72-75-76) for 54 holes was four better than Hermes, who closed with a 74.
"I just had a case of the jitters," said Gilley of her shaky front nine. "I expected a bad round. It was in my head. I was thinking about score when I should have been concentrating on technique."
Gilley was expected to battle NU teammate Elizabeth Burden for this title, but Burden withdrew earlier in the week after encountering travel difficulties involved with this week's U.S. Women's Amateur in Kansas.
"It's important to get two practice rounds in before the U.S. Amateur, but it was also important for me to defend my title here," said Gilley. "I figured, if I'm playing well, one practice round should be enough."
this story was written by Len Ziehm and appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times on July 29, 2001
