Tours and Events

Gina Kim Claims Third Win of the 2025 Season

Ted Odorico July 13, 2025

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Tours and Events

Gina Kim Claims Third Win of the 2025 Season at the Hartford HealthCare Women’s Championship presented by Munich Re

Epson Tour veteran Gina Kim drained her final putt on the 18th green at Great River Golf Club to claim her fourth professional victory of her career. Kim’s mother was on the bag this week, making the celebratory moment even more meaningful.

Despite having a two-shot lead heading into Championship Sunday, Kim felt some nerves after bogeying the first hole. The 25-year-old carded seven birdies on the day to hold her 54-hole lead and finish the tournament with a four-day total of 14-under par.

Gina Kim posing with trophy as the 2025 Hartford Healthcare Champion

“Mentally, I’m in a lot better place. Last year, I was fighting putting demons. And surprisingly, my putting was my strongest suit this week.” Kim expressed how she has improved this season, “So just seeing that improvement, just seeing myself getting better every day, just like my coach would always tell me, that was the most satisfying part, knowing that I was able to overcome the struggles that I faced last year. And just seeing myself come out on the other side of it, I feel really blessed.”

However, the Duke University graduate settled in quickly, making three birdies in a row on holes three, four, and five. Kim rounded out her opening nine with a birdie, posting a 3-under 33. The North Carolina native found birdies on holes 11, 12, and 15 in her final stretch to post a 4-under 68.

2025 Epson Tour rookies Melanie Green and Camille Boyd started the day just three shots back of Kim, ultimately finishing in a share of second place. Green, the winner of the Island Resort Championship presented by Delta County Chamber, put five birdies on her card during the round but posted a 1-under 71 and was unable to secure her second victory. Boyd couldn’t get things to fall her way on Sunday, carding a 1-under 71 and a combined 8-under for the tournament. Despite not being in the final pairing, the 22-year-old made an eagle on the third hole and a birdie on nine, posting an even par front side. The University of Washington alumna found back-to-back birdies on holes 14 and 15 to secure her runner-up finish.

Kim, a four-time Epson Tour champion, is the new Race for the Card leader after receiving 500 points from her win at the Hartford HealthCare Women’s Championship presented by Munich Re. This is Kim’s second time of the 2025 season taking over the number one spot in the Race for the Card ranking, where she last held it for five consecutive weeks.

“I think this one holds a lot more weight to me, just knowing that I managed to finish wire-to-wire. Obviously, you know, there was pressure every day, but the fact that I was able to come out and stay on top of it, even after a day like yesterday, where it was a little bit more of a roller coaster,” Gina said about how much her win means to her. “So, it obviously feels great. It feels good to come back after yesterday and make a lot of birdies and get back into the swing of things, so it feels awesome.”

As the first week of the Northeast stretch comes to a close, Gina Kim and the Epson Tour will travel to Guilderland, New York, for the 41st playing of the Casella Golf Championship at Pinehaven Country Club from July 18-20.

Article By: Epson Tour Communications

Brown Takes Swiss Seniors Open Crown On Legends Tour Debut

Ted Odorico July 13, 2025

Tours and Events

Mark Brown announced his arrival on the Legends Tour with a bang by shooting a bogey-free 64 to overturn a one-shot deficit at the start of the final day and clinch the beautiful crystal trophy at the 27^th Swiss Seniors Open.

Robert Coles held the 36-hole lead, but a front nine of one over par opened the door for the congested chasing pack. The lead changed hands on multiple occasions, but it was ultimately Brown who got the job done with key birdies at the 15^th and 16^th holes to open up some daylight at the summit. He parred the 17^th and was able to play 18 with a two-shot cushion, making a stress-free par to become the first debutant to win on the Legends Tour since Scott Hend at the 2023 WINSTON golf Senior Open.

The DP World Tour winner had started the day with four pars but got things going with three birdies in four holes from the 5^th to turn in 32 strokes. He picked up another at the par-3 11^th before those back-to-back gains at 15 and 16 completed a magical first week with his family watching on. Brown jumps straight into 20^th on the Order of Merit.

“It’s amazing,” said the champion. “I really didn’t know what to expect this week, so we’ve all just had a blast. We’ve had a fantastic week, and what a way to finish today.

“I stayed pretty patient. I felt like the scoring was going to be pretty low today. There’s hardly any wind, so I just needed to be patient, especially on the front nine. I managed to make a few birdies on that back nine coming home, which was really the key. Winning is never easy, so I had the heart rate going coming up 18.

“I’ve got a six-year-old son and he’s obsessed by the trophies. Unfortunately, we don’t win too many in a golf tournament, so he’ll be especially pleased to see the trophy.”

Coles played the back nine in just 31 strokes, including a birdie at the 18^th, to sign for a 67 and join the tie for 2^nd alongside Keith Horne and Van Phillips. That result lifts him to 11^thon the Order of Merit and gives him valuable momentum to carry into the ISPS Handa Senior Open in a couple of weeks and his defence of the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship the following week.

Horne won last week’s Reignwood Legends Championship and he could have climbed to number one on the Order of Merit with a win this week. He gave it a good run with a closing 66, but back-to-back bogeys on 13 and 14 derailed his charge. He responded well birdies at the next two holes, but only managed pars at 17 and 18. He’s jumped from 4^th to 2^nd on the points list, just behind Hend.

Phillips had five birdies and one dropped shot in a 66. It’s a welcome return to form for the reigning WINSTONgolf Senior Open champion in the last couple of events after he also finished 5^th in China last week. He’s now 16^th on the Order of Merit.

Sweden’s Mikael Lundberg and 2018 Swiss Seniors Open winner Jean-François Remesy had rounds of 65 and 66 respectively to finish tied-5^th on -12. Last season’s Order of Merit number one and 2023 winner at Bad Ragaz, Adilson da Silva, climbed into 7^th with a 64.

There was a four-way tie for 8^th at -10, including Bradley Dredge, Thomas Gögele, David Shacklady and Simon Griffiths.

Visit www.legendstour.com to see the final leaderboard and updated Order of Merit, and for more information about the Swiss Seniors Open at Golf Club Bad Ragaz. The Legends Tour now heads to the ISPS Handa Senior Open at Sunningdale, from July 24^th-27^th.

For more information on the Legends Tour go to www.legendstour.com

For media accreditation or requests contact press@legendstour.com

ABOUT THE LEGENDS TOUR

Formerly known as the European Senior Tour and the Staysure Tour, the Legends Tour is the men’s professional golf tour for members aged 50 and older. Created in 1992, the Legends Tour’s active membership features many of the pioneering champions who played on the European Tour during the 1970s, 80s, 90s and beyond. Colin Montgomerie, Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam are among the winners of the John Jacobs Trophy, awarded to the golfer who finishes first on the Legends Tour Order of Merit.

The Legends Tour provides unmatched playing experiences for amateur golfers at its Legends Experience, Championship Pro-Am and Celebrity Pro-Am events. These experiences provide golfers with unique opportunities to rub shoulders with and play alongside legends of the game at world-class venues around the world. In September 2020, Ryan Howsam, Staysure Group CEO, acquired a majority equity share in the Tour in a ground-breaking joint venture with the European Tour, a unique structure whereby an individual has the majority ownership in a professional tour.

ABOUT THE EUROPEAN TOUR GROUP

The European Tour group administers the DP World Tour, the HotelPlanner Tour, the Legends Tour and the G4D Tour and, as the Managing Partner of Ryder Cup Europe LLP, stages golf’s greatest team contest, the Ryder Cup, in partnership with the PGA of America.

The European Tour group has Strategic Partnerships with the PGA TOUR, the Sunshine Tour, the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, the China Golf Association (CGA), the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO), the Korea Professional Golfers’ Association (KPGA), and the TATA Steel Professional Golf Tour of India. These partnerships provide global pathways for players from across the world to compete internationally on the DP World Tour, the main men’s professional golf Tour of the European Tour group which was established in 1972, as well as the HotelPlanner Tour.

Horne Reigns at Pine Valley

Ted Odorico July 9, 2025

Tours and Events

Keith Horne shot a third consecutive round of 68 to secure the inaugural Reignwood Legends Championship by one shot at -12.

The South African overcame a two-shot deficit at the start of the round to lead for much of the day and close out his second Legends Tour victory on the circuit’s first visit to mainland China, with David Drysdale, Matt Cort and Emanuele Canonica finishing in a tie for 2^nd.

A front nine of 33 that included four birdies for Horne, coupled with four bogeys on the outward half for overnight leader Simon Griffiths, allowed the nine-time Sunshine Tour winner to hit the front. Horne led going into the final round of the OFX Irish Legends in May, only to finish tied-2^nd behind compatriot James Kingston, who triumphed with five birdies in the last six holes. But he wasn’t to be denied at Reignwood Pine Valley as red numbers at the two par-fives on the back nine – the 13^th and 16^th – gave him a two-shot cushion standing on the tee of the par-four 18^th.

There have been plenty of double bogeys and worse on the tricky finishing hole this week, and the result was still in doubt when his drive found the fairway bunker. He sensibly chose to lay-up short of the lake that protects the front of the green, and his third shot found the heart of the putting surface. Horne lagged his par putt just inches from the hole, allowing him the simplest of tap-ins to claim the trophy in front of hundreds of cheering Chinese fans.

“It feels fantastic,” said the champion. “I realised the course suited me, so I just stuck to my guns and had a mission. I was leading in Ireland and I got caught up too much watching the guys I was playing with, and James came through at the end, so I was very wary of that. I certainly didn’t take my foot off the pedal, because I had no idea what everybody was doing behind me, and it’s the kind of golf course where if you do get going, you can go quite low. I had a goal to get to -14 and I just tried to focus on that.

“I drove the ball well the whole week, and I continued to drive it well today. I was never really in trouble. The greens were relatively receptive, so when you’re going in with short irons the whole time, you have to make mistakes to make bogeys. The par-fives were all reachable for me, so I was patient and tried to pick up birdies when I could and take advantage of the par-fives.

“The crowds have been fantastic and really enthusiastic all week. They really enjoyed us being here. They’ve been vocal and extremely friendly, and it’s been a pleasure to play in front of them.

“All of my supporters and family back home have been amazing. Their support has been invaluable. It means a lot to me, and it certainly inspires me.”

Horne got his maiden Legends Tour victory in Zambia last year on the way to finishing sixth on the Order of Merit, and his second title boosts him to fourth on this season’s points list. As well as this title and his runner-up finish at Mount Juliet, he has also been tied-9^th at the Staysure Marbella Legends and the Barbados Legends hosted by Ian Woosnam.

Drysdale emerged as Horne’s main rival as he started with four birdies in a row and picked up another at the 7^th. A bogey on the 11^th halted his momentum, followed by a birdie at 13 and a bogey at 14. Another pick-up at the par-five 16^th gave him hope of taking the title, but a couple of closing pars saw him shoot 67 and come up one shot shy of a play-off on -11.

Q School graduate Cort had a fast finish with an eagle at the 13^th and birdies at the 15^thand 18^th to force his way into the tie for 2^nd. In total, he had one eagle, six birdies and three bogeys in a 67. It’s a result that thrusts him firmly into the early conversation for the Barry Lane Rookie of the Year award.

Canonica had four birdies and two dropped shots in his first 12 holes, but back-to-back bogeys on 14 and 15 looked like finishing his week on a sour note. However, the DP World Tour winner hit back with brilliant birdies at his final three holes to end his tournament on a high.

Drysdale, Cort and Canonica have jumped to 10^th, 11^th and 13^th on the Order of Merit, respectively.

Van Phillips finished alone in 5^th on -9. Last year’s WINSTONgolf Senior Open winner had four birdies and a double bogey in his 70. Maarten Lafeber shot a best-of-the-day 66 that included an eagle on 8 and no dropped shots to get into a tie for 6^th at -7 alongside former Open champion Paul Lawrie and Thai star Thongchai Jaidee.

Griffiths played his back nine in level par with birdies at 10 and 13 and bogeys at 11 and 18 to sign for a 76. He and Greig Hutcheon, who had a 73, were tied-9^th on -6.

Order of Merit number one Scott Hend and Q School winner Shinichi Yokota endured costly finishes to slip outside the top-10. Hend got into the hunt with a front nine of just 31 strokes, but two bogeys and a triple bogey on 17 saw him home in 41 for a 71. Playing in the final group, Yokota found the water on 18 on his way to a triple bogey and a 75. The pair were tied-11^th on -5.

Visit www.legendstour.com to see the final leaderboard and updated Order of Merit, and for more information about the Reignwood Legends Championship at Reignwood Pine Valley, Beijing, China. The Legends Tour now heads to the Swiss Seniors Open at Golf Club Bad Ragaz, Switzerland, from July 11^th-13^th.

For more information on the Legends Tour go to www.legendstour.com

Jillian Hollis Earns Win Number Four at the 2025 Otter Creek Championship

Ted Odorico July 1, 2025

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Tours and Events

What started as a two-horse race ended in a two-horse race. Jillian Hollis and Kelli Ann Strand walked off of the 18th tee tied for the lead at 13-under for the tournament. Each player took a much different route to get there, with Hollis chasing Strand at the beginning of the day, but Strand chasing Hollis by the end of the day.

Hollis started the round three shots back of the lead but immediately put the pressure on, making two birdies in her first three holes. A bogey followed shortly after on No. 4, but the 28-year-old would get the shot back before the turn with a birdie on No. 8. As the pair made the turn, Hollis held a one-shot lead after a shaky start from Strand.

The back nine started with a bogey from Hollis, however, bringing Strand back into the mix immediately. The tie was short-lived as Strand would make a bogey on No. 11, giving the lead back to the three-time Epson Tour winner as she made birdie, making it a two-shot swing. Hollis would add another birdie on No. 15 to get it to 13-under.

While it looked like Hollis was going to pull away, Strand started to plot a comeback. The 21-year-old made back-to-back birdies on holes 13 and 14, cutting the lead to one shot. Then, on No. 17, she answered the bell, rolling in a birdie putt to tie Hollis going into No. 18.

Both players hit the fairway and laid up to a short yardage on the par five, leaving themselves with great birdie opportunities. Strand went first, landing near the pin, but the firm greens led to a bigger bounce than intended, leaving her a 30-foot putt for birdie. Hollis, on the other hand, hit a low spinning wedge to about four feet uphill.

The putt came up short for Strand, leaving Hollis with a short putt for her fourth Epson Tour victory and first since her win at the 2022 Circling Raven Championship. The veteran stepped up and buried the putt, sealing her fourth title and setting the new 54-hole scoring record at the Otter Creek Championship.

“It’s been a long time coming, and my game feels really good right now, and I’ve just like found some peace in my golf game and kind of just in the rest of my life too,” explained Hollis. “I think the golf’s really good, but everything else is I’m in a really good place right now, like very happy.”

The Epson Tour heads to a one-week break before heading out east for the Hartford HealthCare Women’s Championship presented by Munich Re.

Provided by: Epson Tour Communications

Melanie Green Earns Come-From-Behind Victory at the Island Resort Championship

Ted Odorico June 24, 2025

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Tours and Events

When the final round of the Island Resort Championship began late Sunday morning, Melanie Green was in a tie for fifth with four other players, two shots back of the leader. A dark horse, Green fired off an impressive 7-under, 65, to take the solo lead and hope it stuck through the end.

The bogey-free round was just what the New York native needed to secure her first professional victory, even more impressive after finishing her second round in the morning before heading back out onto the course to go for the win. Green started hot, carding five birdies in her first 11 holes, but it was the eagle on the par-4 14th that all but secured the victory.

With golfers still left on the course, the 23-year-old wasn’t quite sure what the official outcome would be. She immediately headed to the putting green to begin preparing for a playoff.

Melanie Green wins her first Epson Tour event the 2025 Island Resort Championship

“As I was walking off the green, I didn’t know that I had won yet. Obviously, there was a girl behind me who had a really nice finish as well,” said Green. “So, as I was walking from the putting green after I realized all that, that was a pretty special walk.”

The victory moves Green to fourth in the Race for the Card rankings at the halfway point of the season, a prime position to earn her LPGA Tour card. The 2025 rookie has made seven cuts in 10 starts, earning four top-10 finishes and proving that her game is good enough to compete against the best in the world.

In addition to winning the tournament, Green secured the Pure Michigan Cup, earning $10,000 in bonus money. Representatives from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship, Great Lakes Championship at the Highlands presented by Johnnie Walker, and Island Resort Championship awarded the Cup. Riley Smyth and Samantha Wagner earned second ($6,000) and third place ($4,000), respectively.

“It’s an amazing bonus to top off the Michigan swing,” said Green. “Getting the points to get my LPGA card is most important but sponsors willing to donate to the Epson Tour to get us athletes some bonus money is incredibly generous and sweet.”

Kate Smith-Stroh finished the tournament in solo second, her best career Epson Tour finish to date. After spending three years on the Official Qualifying Tour, the 26-year-old earned her LPGA Tour card through the final stage of the 2024 LPGA Q-Series but has struggled early in the season. The 2025 LPGA rookie has made four cuts in 10 starts and will bring confidence from the top Epson Tour finish back to the biggest stage in women’s golf next week at the DOW Championship.

“It’s actually my best finish on the Epson Tour. I’ve had a tie for a second,” said Smith-Stroh. “It’s been a really hard last month and a half, as a rookie on the LPGA, so it’s really reassuring about where my game’s at and that I’m heading in the right direction, so it has been awesome.”

Samantha Bruce and Amari Avery rounded out the top five, in a share of fourth at 9-under. Bruce signed for a 3-under final round that consisted of two birdies, an eagle and a bogey, while Avery, the first-and-second-round leader, put together an even-par round to stay in the top five.

The Official Qualifying Tour of the LPGA heads to Columbus, Ind., next week for the second annual Otter Creek Championship. The tournament will be played from June 27-29, with Green teeing it up looking for back-to-back wins.

Release by: Epson Tour Communications

J.J. Spaun winner of the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont

Ted Odorico June 15, 2025

Oakmont, PA – June 15th, 2025

Winner of the 125th U.S. Open J.J. Spaun survived a terrible start and challenging elements to pull away from the pack and capture his first major championship with a two-stroke victory at Oakmont Country Club on Sunday. After picking up a birdie on the 17th hole to go ahead by one stroke, Spaun made a 64½-foot birdie putt on the 18th to secure his unlikely victory and defeat Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre by two.

JJ Spaun plants one on the U.S. Open trophy

After Spaun’s long putt fell in the cup, he dropped his putter, raised his arms in the air, and gave the crowd a fist-pump. He hugged caddie Mark Carens and later embraced his wife, Melody, and two young daughters.

The 34-year-old American finished 72 holes at Oakmont on one-under par 279 after a closing two-over 72 to defeat Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre by two strokes with Norway’s Viktor Hovland third on 282. Well behind for most of the day, Spaun watched US leader Sam Burns and Australian Adam Scott stumble back while he charged back with four birdies on the last seven holes.

Spaun, the first US Open champion to bogey the first three holes in his final round, sank a 40-foot birdie putt at the par-five 12th, a 22-foot birdie putt at 14, and answered a bogey at 15 with a clutch tap-in birdie at 17 to grab the lead before rolling in the clincher at 18. Spaun wiped tears from his eyes as spectators chanted his name when he walked off the green. The only prior PGA Tour victory in Spaun’s career came at the 2022 Texas Open.

Spaun said he didn’t look at the scoreboard as he walked up the 18th fairway because didn’t want to know if he had a two-stroke lead.

“I knew based on what the crowd was saying that I felt like if I two-putted, I would probably win,” Spaun said. “But I didn’t want to look because I didn’t want to play defensive. I didn’t want to do anything dumb trying to protect a three-putt or something.

JJ Spaun putts on the 18th green to win during the final round of the U.S. Open

“About eight feet out, I kind of went up to the high side to see if it had a chance of going in, and it was like going right in. I was just in shock, disbelief that it went in and it was over.”

Spaun was the only golfer to finish under par at 1-under 279. He posted an even-par 72 on Sunday and went 3 under on the back nine. Spaun will collect $4.3 million for the biggest payday of his career.

“Happy Father’s Day!”

Smyth Claims Second Epson Tour Victory

Ted Odorico June 15, 2025

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Tours and Events

The sun shone down on the Great Lakes Championship for the first time since the competition started on Friday. But the sun wasn’t the only thing shining. Multiple athletes carded low rounds, making a push to hoist the trophy, but it was ultimately Riley Smyth who came out victorious. The 25-year-old carded a 6-under final round that consisted of seven birdies and one bogey to hold off the rest of the field in a nail-biter fashion. Waiting beside 18 green for the final group’s last effort at forcing a playoff, Smyth’s shoulders sank in relief when her second win became official.

“I didn’t have a great first round, kind of gutted it out, but was able to come back and have two rounds 6-under, both the second and third,” said Smyth. “So, obviously, that gives a lot for my confidence, to be able to know that I can do that and come from behind. But still, a lot of golf is left to be played for the rest of this year.”

The Tequesta, Fla., native joins Race for the Card leader Gina Kim in the two-win and 1000-point club thanks to her performance at the Great Lakes Championship at the Highlands presented by Johnnie Walker. She’s also hot on Kim’s tail in the Race for the Card standings, just 21 points away from overtaking Kim.

Smyth Claims Second Epson Tour Victory at the Great Lakes Championship

“It’s so tough (to win a tournament). Everyone is so good out here that you still have to play your best golf,” said Smyth. “You have to be able to make the putts when you get the opportunities, and it’s just week in and week out; everyone is playing so well.

“The top of the leaderboard is so tight every week, and it’s great players at the top, so it’s hard to win a tournament, but to know that I can do it, it does help my confidence a lot.”

The win, along with a T15 result at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship, moves Smyth into the lead for the Pure Michigan Cup by 47 points. Another top finish at the Island Resort Championship could see the University of Virginia alum walk away with $10,000 in bonus money.

Second place belonged to Erika Hara, Isi Gabsa and Laney Frye, who all made great efforts to catch Smyth throughout the round. Hara made the biggest leaderboard jump of the three, also signing for a 6-under final round. First-and-second-round leader Laney Frye tried to hold onto her 36-hole lead but ultimately took away valuable confidence and lessons for the future.

“I think I’m just taking confidence,” said Frye. “I mean, I left a good amount of shots out there, so I think I know where my game needs to get sharper. And I think this kind of proves that I definitely can win out here.”

Rounding out the top five was Kayla Smith, who also carded the low round of the day at 7-under. The rookie’s final round 65 set a new 18-hole tournament record at the inaugural tournament and moved her from T19 to solo 5th.

The Road to the LPGA continues its way up Northern Michigan, traveling to Harris for the Island Resort Championship. The tournament will be played at Sweetgrass Golf Club from June 20-22.

Provided by: Epson Tour Communications

BAKER CRUISES TO COSTA NAVARINO TITLE

Ted Odorico June 14, 2025

Tours and Events

The former Ryder Cup player started the day one shot behind overnight leader Paul Lawrie, but Baker had taken the lead by the 4^th hole, and he never looked back as he completed a bogey-free week and strolled to the title with a -16 total. Baker made a steady start on the International Olympic Academy Golf Course with three pars before his first birdie of the day at the 4^th. Even though Lawrie birdied the opening hole, the 1999 Open champion then double bogeyed the 3^rd and bogeyed the 4^th, so Baker’s one-shot deficit became a two-stroke advantage.

The 2023 Order of Merit number one didn’t give anyone else a sniff from that point as he also picked up shots at the 6^th and 7^th to go out in 33 and make the turn four shots clear. He improved to -14 at the par-5 11^th, and another gain at the 15^th gave him a five-shot cushion with three to play. The 57-year-old completed the full set of par-5 birdies on the penultimate hole and two-putted from long range at 18 to seal a bogey-free week and a supremely impressive victory.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” said the three-time DP World Tour winner. “It was a tough day. The wind was a little bit different, a little bit stronger today. It was difficult out there, so we had to adapt, and I managed to do that early on. I played nicely and putted nicely today. I holed-out well and holed a couple of longer ones, which you’ve got to do to win.

“It was just one of those days when you try not to make any mistakes, and I didn’t drop a shot all week, which is a massive thing, really. I was really grinding there at the last from about 40 feet, because I didn’t want to give that bogey-free record away.”

The champion played consistently well all week with two 67s in the first two rounds at the Olympic and Hills courses, before adding today’s 66 to get his hands on the trophy. Baker followed up top spot on the Order of Merit in 2023 by finishing 2^nd on the season-long points list last season, and this victory lifts him from 7^th to 2^nd in this season’s standings. He has also finished tied-2^nd in the OFX Irish Legends and tied-4^th at the Staysure Marbella Legends in 2025.

“I want to contend for the Order of Merit again,” said Baker. “I want to try and play well throughout the year and win tournaments. That’s always been my goal. If you’ve got a chance in the Order of Merit, then great. There are a lot of good players out here, a lot of winners, so it’ll be up and down through the year, but you just keep going and keep trying your best.”

Lawrie remained in solo-2^nd for much of the day but a triple-bogey at the 14^th, a bogey at the 16^th and a triple-bogey at the 18^th saw him slip down the leaderboard. He signed for a 79 to finish tied-17^th on -4.

In the end, it was reigning Sergio Melpignano Senior Italian Open champion Thomas Gögele and recent OFX Irish Legends winner James Kingston who finished in tied-2^nd on -10. Gögele had five birdies and one bogey in his 68, while Kingston recovered from a +1 front nine with four birdies on the way home to seal a 69. They improve to 12^th and 3^rd on the Order of Merit, respectively.

PGA Tour winner Bo Van Pelt had a -9 total for the week to finish in 4^th. The American was out in 32, including an eagle at the 1^st, and he had one birdie and one bogey on the back nine to shoot 68 in his first regular Legends Tour start. He missed the cut on his seniors debut in the Senior PGA Championship a couple of weeks ago. Former Ryder Cup player and Legends Tour rookie Stephen Gallacher is into the top-10 of the Order of Merit thanks to a 5^th-place finish. There was a four-way tie for 6^th on -7, including debutant Anthony Wall, former Ryder Cup player Joakim Haeggman and DP World Tour winners Maarten Lafeber and Philip Golding. Order of Merit number one Scott Hend was a shot further back in tied-10^th, alongside Robert Coles, Greg Owen and Simon Griffiths.

The Legends Tour now heads to a major championship with the US Senior Open at The Broadmoor GC, Colorado, next week. The next regular event is the Reignwood Legends Championship in China from July 4^th-6^th.

For more information on the Legends Tour go to www.legendstour.com

For media accreditation or requests contact press@legendstour.com

Monty to host Staysure PGA Seniors Championship

Ted Odorico June 11, 2025

MONTGOMERIE RELISHING ROLE OF HOST AT STAYSURE PGA SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP

Colin Montgomerie will once again assume the role of host at the Legends Tour’s flagship event when the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship returns to Trump International at the end of July.

The eight-time European Tour Order of Merit winner and Ryder Cup legend will put his name to this third playing of the tournament at the Aberdeenshire venue – an event that drew in record crowds in 2024 as Robert Coles edged out local favourite and former Open champion Paul Lawrie by a single stroke to claim the title.

This year’s tournament is the first leg of what will be an historic two weeks of professional golf at Trump International with the back-to-back playing of the Legends Tour’s Staysure PGA Seniors Championship, followed immediately by the DP World Tour’s Scottish Championship. Early-bird tickets to both events are still available, with fans who purchase tickets to either tournament receiving a 25% discount on tickets for the other event. www.legendstour.com/tickets

Montgomerie will headline a stellar field of Legends Tour players including Major winners Paul Lawrie, Michael Campbell, Rich Beem and Shaun Micheel, along with a host of Ryder Cup players and Tour winners, including David Howell and Soren Kjeldsen, who will both be playing in their first fully sanctioned Legends Tour event. The full field will be announced at the end of June.

Staysure PGA Seniors Championship host Colin Montgomerie

Golf fans in Aberdeen will also be treated to the sight of many stars of sport, stage and screen gracing the fairways of Trump International, with the Cardhu Celebrity Pro-Am taking place before the main event. Faces to look out for include the likes of Andriy Shevchenko, Judy Murray, Glenn Hoddle, Vernon Kay, Gianfranco Zola, Kriss Akabusi, Teddy Sheringham, Mark Foster, Gordon Strachan and Robbie Fowler.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, Montgomerie said: “I’m absolutely honoured and extremely proud to be hosting the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship for a second time. The Legends Tour is going from strength to strength, and this is very much the flagship event of the season at one of the world’s great golf courses. I’m sure it’s going to be another memorable week and we are all looking forward to seeing thousands of golf fans out on the fairways as the players take on the stern challenge this course presents.”

Staysure PGA Seniors Championship host Colin Montgomerie, Trump International Executive Vice President Sarah Malone, Legends Tour CEO Phil Harrison

Phil Harrison, CEO of the Legends Tour, added: “We are delighted that Colin is to host for a second time. His is a name that is synonymous with European golf and he has been integral to the success it has enjoyed over the past 40 years. Having such a legend of our game hosting our flagship event makes things extra special. The Staysure PGA Seniors Championship is one of the highlights of the year for all our Legends Tour players and it’s wonderful to be back at the magnificent Trump International for a third consecutive year. This is a world-class facility and provides the perfect platform for the oldest Senior championship in golf.”

Sarah Malone, Executive Vice President, Trump International, Scotland, added: “Colin Montgomerie is held in the highest regard and affection by us all. He is an outstanding ambassador, and we are honoured that he has agreed to host the Legends Tour again this year, particularly at such a truly exceptional period in our journey. We are proud to be hosting two great tournaments and are looking forward immensely to the opening of our hotly anticipated new course. To reflect their championship status and in keeping with golfing tradition, our courses will be known as the Old and the New – both part of our vision to create the greatest 36 holes in golf.”

Both the Legends Tour and DP World Tour players will be tackling the impressive Old course that was designed by Dr Martin Hawtree and opened in 2012 to great acclaim. With two loops of nine holes nestled in amongst the Great Dunes of Scotland with views of the Aberdeenshire coastline and the North Sea, it’s a truly unique golf course where each hole has its own distinct characteristics.

Adding to the excitement is the much-anticipated New course. Spanning hundreds of acres of rugged coastal terrain, the brand new, 18-hole links features the world’s largest natural bunker, mountainous sand dunes, and infinity greens hugging the coastal dune ridge. It will perfectly complement the existing Old course, which has received worldwide acclaim and is ranked among the “Top 100 Courses in the World” by Golf Digest.

The Staysure PGA Seniors Championship is supported by title sponsor and Legends Tour principal partner Staysure Insurance, along with tournament sponsor Cardhu. The tournament takes place from Thursday 31^st July to Sunday 3^rd August, with the Cardhu Celebrity Pro-Am on Wednesday 30^th July.

Tickets at www.legendstour.com/tickets.

For more information on the Legends Tour go to www.legendstour.com

For media accreditation or requests contact press@legendstour.com

ABOUT THE LEGENDS TOUR

Formerly known as the European Senior Tour and the Staysure Tour, the Legends Tour is the men’s professional golf tour for members aged 50 and older. Created in 1992, the Legends Tour’s active membership features many of the pioneering champions who played on the European Tour during the 1970s, 80s, 90s and beyond. Colin Montgomerie, Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam are among the winners of the John Jacobs Trophy, awarded to the golfer who finishes first on the Legends Tour Order of Merit.

The Legends Tour provides unmatched playing experiences for amateur golfers at its Legends Experience, Championship Pro-Am and Celebrity Pro-Am events. These experiences provide golfers with unique opportunities to rub shoulders with and play alongside legends of the game at world-class venues around the world. In September 2020, Ryan Howsam, Staysure Group CEO, acquired a majority equity share in the Tour in a ground-breaking joint venture with the European Tour, a unique structure whereby an individual has the majority ownership in a professional tour.

Samantha Wagner Takes Home First Win

Ted Odorico June 8, 2025

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Tours and Events

When the final round of the 2025 FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship began, Samantha Wagner was two shots back of the 36-hole leaders, Yana Wilson and Samantha Vodry. By the end of the day, she was two shots clear of Sophia Schubert and hoisting her first Epson Tour trophy on the 18th green. For the majority of the day, it was anyone’s tournament to win, but Wagner was the one who took it and ran.

The veteran started off slow, making a bogey on her first hole for the day. That would be the only one, however, with the next 17 holes being almost flawless. It started immediately, rolling in her first birdie of eight on hole two. Three pars followed, and then the next birdie came, with another coming two holes later just before the turn.

At the turn, Wagner was in the hunt, but not in control of the lead. A disappointing par on the Par-5 10th was followed by another par on the 11th. The 12th hole was when everything started to click for the 28-year-old, making her first birdie of the back nine.

She followed it up with three more birdies, making it four in a row before a par on the difficult Par-3 16th broke the streak. At this point, Wagner held the solo lead, chasing down the clubhouse lead at 11-under set by Sophia Schubert. One more birdie came on 17, extending her lead to two coming down 18. It was business as usual for Wagner, hitting the fairway and then a green in regulation. A two-putt sealed the two-shot victory for her first win on the Epson Tour.

“It’s finally sinking in, this is awesome,” said Wagner after her win. “I think for me, a lot of it was taking a step back and really trying not to think about winning and just really focusing on my process. I’ve been told by many people that if I keep doing that, eventually it’ll pay off, so I really just had to lean in and trust that. It’s been a long time, so it’s nice to see that finally come through. It just feels great moving forward.”

Schubert pushed Wagner till the very end, making three birdies in her last four holes to try and close the gap. This is the second time this year the Tennessee native has put together a final-round push, coming up just short both times. At the Atlantic Beach Classic presented by Access Golf in March, she posted a 63 in the final round to finish runner-up as well. Schubert continues to impress, now sitting at No. 2 in the Race for the Card, despite not finding a way into the winner’s circle just yet.

“I think it’s just the chase for me. I play better when I’m trying to chase,” said Schubert. “I’ve been in contention a couple times this year in the last group, and I don’t know, it was a lot of pressure, and I feel like just not be the last group trying to chase the leader is where I love to be, and so I’m competitive that way, and I seem to play better that way.”

The Epson Tour heads to Harbor Springs, Michigan, next week for the inaugural playing of the Great Lakes Championship. Tournament play will begin June 13th, with play concluding on Sunday, June 15th. Both Wagner and Schubert will be in the 144-player field, looking for another opportunity to find themselves in the winner’s circle.

Provided by: Epson Tour Communications