Kellogg-Keebler Classic

Course: Stonebridge Country Club, Aurora, Illinois
Yardage: 6629
Par: 72  (four par-fives)
USGA Rating: 73.3
Greens: Bentgrass - 8,500 sq.ft  (Tour average: 6,000 sq.ft)

GCSAA Tournament Fact Sheet

Weather Forecast

Past Winners:
Inaugural event

Outright plays (1 unit):

Juli Inkster to win 18/1 e.w. @ Bet365
New event and new course, so smaller stakes this week on the LPGA Tour. Sorenstam, Webb and Pak are all here warming up for next week's Major, so it means a decent price on Inkster, who has been in great form this season. She finished 27th in the Aerus Electrolux USA Championship last time out, but it was the week after winning the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship and represented only her second finish outside the top-10 since she opened her 2002 campaign in the Takefuji Classic. With no course form available this week, siding with in-form players who have strong greens in regulation stats. The fairways are said to be generous and Inkster is not short off the tee.

Grace Park to win 33/1 e.w. @ Sean Graham
The Korean has been one of the most impressive players so far this season and the decision to team up with a new coach, Peter Kostis, has paid dividends. She has finished in the top-10 in seven of nine starts this season and should be well-suited to this course. Widely available at half these odds, she represents great value at 33/1.

Michele Redman to finish in the top-four 16.5/1 @ Sportsinteraction
Waited and waited until SIA released their lines as I knew they would be same as William Hill's, but with the place option available. Can't see Redman beating Sorenstam, Webb and Pak, but she has been in impressive form lately and was in contention to win last week until two late bogeys. Born in Ohio and now living in Minnesota, she is as close to a local player as there is amongst the leading contenders, which could count for something.

Matchup plays:

Meg Mallon to beat Liselotte Neumann -143 @ BetandWin
Neumann's good form in March has long since gone as her putting stats have worsened. Mallon has been steady all year with a worst finish of 48th; in the last three events, Neumann hasn't been able to reach even that mark. Withdrew from last week's tournament on Tuesday as she was feeling unwell and so this is a hastily arranged warm-up for next week. Just can't see a good week from Lotte.

Michele Redman to beat Michelle McGann -143 @ BetandWin [2 units]
Finishing 13th last week was certainly the high point of the season so far for McGann. She had finished 29th in the Welch's/Circle K Championship, but in her only other two cuts made in nine starts, she had finished 65th and 69th. Redman leads 8-1 in common events this year and can only see this dominance continue.

Rachel Teske to beat Gloria Park -111 @ BetandWin [2 units]
Is Teske the Davis Love of the LPGA Tour? Two top-10 finishes in Australia have been followed by a win in the Ping Banner Health and a complete loss of form interrupted by a 6th place finish in the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship. It was the same story last year until she won the Evian Masters and then achieved some consistency until the end of the season. Park is not in much better form, despite opening the season with a 3rd place finish in the Takefuji Classic. Teske leads her 4-2 this season in common events. I'll take a chance on a player who could easily win this event. Pity there aren't any 'miss the cut' props so I cut hedge this!

Final update:

Matchups: 2-1; +2.57 units

Mallon/Neumann LOST by 1 (at the cut)
Redman/McGann WON by 9
Teske/Park WON by 4 (at the cut)

Outrights: 1-2; +14.50 units

Inkster 30th
Park 30th
Redman 2nd

Great event, just a pity I dropped the standard units from 1.5 to just 1 because this was a new course. Decent return on the outrights and vindicated in taking the place-only angle with Redman. She finished 2nd to Annika by ELEVEN shots! Park could have secured a top-5 finish as well, but a double- and a triple-bogey around the turn put an end to her chances.