Golf: Fiorini flirts with course record to lead Rock River to victory in Women’s Rock River Classic

ROCK FALLS – Megan Fiorini picked a good time to flirt with the women’s course record at Rock River Golf and Pool.

Fiorini, who will soon start her sophomore year at Rock Falls High School, carded a 5-under-par 67 on Sunday to blow away the field and lead her Rock River team to top honors at the Women’s Rock River Classic Golf Tournament.

Fiorini had a 2-under-par 70 in Saturday’s first round, and her 137 total earned medalist honors by a whopping 18 strokes. Deer Valley’s Meredith Adams had the next-lowest gross score with 74 and 81 for a 155 total.

Rock River GAP’s women’s course record is 66, set by former Sterling and University of Illinois standout Ember Schuldt in 2007 at the Rocket Invitational. Fiorini nearly chased down that score with a 5-under-par 30 on her final nine holes.

“From [Saturday], my putting was a lot better,” Fiorini said. “I was kind of chicken the first day, leaving everything short. I just tried to put it close and make good shots.”

Even when Fiorini didn’t necessarily hit a good shot, it turned out great. A mis-hit 9-iron on the par-3 seventh hole one-hopped off the flagstick and into kick-in birdie range.

“I hit a 9-iron and I thinned it,” Fiorini said. “It was kind of lucky that I hit [the flagstick], or I would have been in the back.”

Fiorini has a big fan in Adams, her playing partner for all 36 holes.

“Megan’s awesome,” Adams said. “There’s nothing that she can’t do. She’s a birdie machine.”

Each team counted its six top best-against-bogey scores each day, and Rock River GAP stood at just +28 after the first day; Prophet Hills led the way at +36.

In the second round, however, RRGAP went +55 to post a +83 total. Prophet Hills went +31 for a +67 total.

A big difference was the addition of Deena Simester to the lineup. She did not play in the tournament on Saturday, as she had already committed to participate in a playday fundraiser for Rock Falls athletics. Simester went +10 the second day, a score that was matched by Bella Heintzelman and exceeded by Fiorini (+16) and Ellie Wasson (+11).

“Some of the girls told me their goal was to try and beat my score from today,” Simester said. “They did that, and that’s what helps. Having people like Megan, who can shoot +16, those kind of things help your team.”

Fiorini went +16 both days for a +32 total. She was followed by Heintzelman (+20), Wasson (+20), Sandi Ivey (+12), Lauren Tupper (-2), Simester (-8) and Madison Thatcher (-17).

Ivey and Wasson won the Fourth and Fifth flights, respectively.

Prophet Hills had five flight winners: Shelly Felske (Second Flight, +22), Karen Wiersema (Third Flight, +9), Deb Harris (Sixth Flight, +5), Margie Sommers (Seventh Flight, +9) and Corri Zschiesche-Kelly (Eighth Flight, +2).

Rounding out the Prophet Hills lineup were Cathy Verhulst (+15), Donna Moore (+5) and Kris Zschiesche (-1).

PrairieView (+39), Deer Valley (+38), Sunset (+33), Shady Oaks (+24) and Mendota (-60) rounded out the seven-team field.

PrairieView’s Joanna Sharp and Deer Valley’s Adams were each at +23 and had a one-hole playoff for best-against-bogey honors. Sharp parred the first hole to Adams’ bogey to win that playoff. Adams ended up winning the First Flight.

Adams was solid through 27 holes, but had just a +2 over her final nine to get caught by Sharp.

“I got in my own head,” Adams said. “I started pulling the ball and I was afraid it was going to go out of bounds, and it got in my head.”

Other top players in the field included Sunset’s Ali Scheidecker (+16) and Colleen Miller (+14), Mendota’s Angie Farraher (+12) and Shady Oaks’ Nikki Masini (+11).

The tournament was blessed with two days of good weather, and thanks to the Rock River GAP staff and volunteers, went off without a hitch. Simester thought one person in particular went above and beyond the call.

“I think that Sandi Ivey worked her butt off to put this tournament on and did everything that she could to make everyone happy,” Simester said. “I think it went very well.”