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.
“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
