Deanne Stolarik of Zion captured her first Illinois State Senior Women’s Amateur Championship.

DECATUR – Downstate Illinois played host to the state’s top senior women’s golfers for the 55th Illinois State Senior Women’s Amateur Championship as 53 golfers teed off over three days at South Side Country Club in Decatur.

Related Links: (Results) / (Photo Gallery)

Deanne Stolarik (Zion), who has finished runner-up six times in the championship, chained together three straight days of consistent golf to emerge victorious over the field on Wednesday afternoon. An opening round of 8-over 81 positioned her atop the leaderboard with returning champion and four-time event winner Mary Ellen Martin (Winfield). On Tuesday, Stolarik fired a 5-over 78 to position herself in good standing for the last 18 holes on Wednesday. A final round 4-over 77 culminated in Stolarik’s first State Senior Women’s Amateur title, besting Martin and Sonia Burgess (Carol Stream).

“I’ve been close so many times the last few years and just have been outplayed on the final day,” said Stolarik of her numerous close calls. “Today, I was finally able to pull it off. It means a lot.”

After the first two rounds, Stolarik held a four-shot lead over Burgess and Martin. Stolarik’s past experiences helped her finish strong on the final day.

“I just tried to keep the pedal to the medal. Played really well on the front nine and had a ten-shot lead going into the back, so I just stayed focused and kept playing my game. It ended up working out all right.”

In all, awards were presented to the top three low gross and net finishers in each of the five flights. Mimi Boysen (Dixon) was crowned the overall net champion.

FLIGHT WINNERS
Overall Gross | Deanne Stolarik (Zion)
Overall Net | Mimi Boysen (Dixon)

Flight 1
Low Gross | Deanne Stolarik (Zion)
Low Net | Natalie Savich (Libertyville)

Flight 2
Low Gross | Martha O’Boyle (Palos Heights)
Low Net | Sue Kusch (Brookfield)

Flight 3
Low Gross | Nancy Brennemann (Pekin)
Low Net | Mimi Boysen (Dixon)

Flight 4
Low Gross | Nena Mayotte (Saint Anne)
Low Net | Leslie Lavery (Peoria)

Flight 5
Low Gross | Mickey Poulos (Chicago)
Low Net | Gillian McLaughlin (Chicago)

Championship Information
The Illinois State Senior Women’s Amateur Championship was first contested in 1971 at Illini Country Club. The event is open to any Illinois women’s golfer aged 50 and up. Currently administered by the CDGA, the event is flighted into five groups with an overall gross and net winner awarded. In 2023, Mary Ellen Martin of Winfield was crowned overall gross champion for the fourth time. (2023 Recap / (Event History)