FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship
Battle Creek Country Club
Battle Creek, Michigan
June 7, 2015
Final-Round News & Notes

BATTLE CREEK, Mich., June 7, 2015 - It took a 25-foot putt on hole 17 and a flop shot that she didn’t want to have on 18, as Madeleine Sheils (Boise, Idaho) executed to perfection to claim her first Epson Tour victory with a 4-under 68 on Sunday at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship. Sheils finished at 10-under 206 to finish two strokes ahead of Lindy Duncan (Jupiter, Fla.) and Katelyn Sepmoree (Tyler, Tx.).

Sheils, who started the day three shots off the lead, made three of her four birdies on the back nine and posted a bogey-free final round to win.

“It feels absolutely amazing, I’m still a little bit in shock though,” said Sheils, whose playing partner Jacey Chun had a three shot lead early on the back nine. “I think this one will take a little bit to set in, but the
emotions outside the scoring tent were relief, excitement, shock and just pure joy.”

The momentum shifted to Sheils favor on the 15th hole when Chun made a double-bogey while Sheils made a birdie to take the outright lead.

“Jacey had played so well on the day and she was 5-under and I was down four shots through 11 holes,” said Sheils. “I got to 15 and it was downwind and firm on a long par-5 and I hit this awesome 3-wood onto the green in two shots and two putted for birdie so that was a huge swing in momentum.”

On 17, she gave herself breathing room with a 25-foot birdie putt to take a two stroke lead.

“That was huge, I was probably a little unconscious at that point,” said Sheils. “I saw my spot, pictured it rolling in and then it did. It was the perfect putt at the perfect time.”

She wasn’t home free quite yet, as her approach shot into the 18th rolled over the green and she was left with a very challenging flop shot at a back pin location on a slopping green.

“That was wild, the one thing you can’t do on 18 is go beyond the green,” said Sheils. “I was a little juiced up and there was a lot of wind in my face and I just hit the ball through the green. “I wound up missing my spot by eight feet (on the flop shot), which is exactly where I needed to hit it and it was perfect. When it is your day, it is your day.”

Sheils has one professional win on the Cactus Tour, but this is one she will never forget.

“This is so special because I have been working so hard and so long for this moment,” said Sheils. “It’s my third season out here and I don’t know how many events it is (42 events), but it feels like a lot. To come through today, I am just so happy.”

Sheils moves to 10th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list with her first-place check.

“Every dollar helps so $15,000 definitely helps,” said Sheils about her move up the money list from 24th. “There is a lot of season left and this is something I can build on.”

Sheils becomes just the second player from Idaho to win on the Epson Tour. Janell Howland (Boise), now the women’s golf coach at University of North Carolina - Greensboro, won the 2007 Louisiana Pelican
Classic. There are currently no players from Idaho on the LPGA Tour.

HENDERSON IN A FAMILY OF ATHLETES: Selanee Henderson had a 7:20 a.m. tee time on Sunday morning in the final-round of the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship. She didn’t go to bed until 12:30 a.m. to stay up and watch her older brother, Dan, fight in UFC Fight Night 68. Luckily for Selanee, Dan is one of the all-time great UFC fighters and dispatched of Tim Boetsch in just 28 seconds.

Selanee started slow and heated up late with birdies on 16 and 18 to finish at even-par 72 on Sunday.

“I’ve always looked up to him my whole life,” said Selanee after her round. “I came around when my brothers were in high school and they were both really good wrestlers and I’ve always looked up to them.”

Because of the age difference, it was actually Selanee’s dad, Bill, that instilled the work ethic that led both Selanee and her brothers to successful athletic careers.

“My dad instilled really good habits in us that I thought were just common knowledge,” said Selanee. “He taught us to work really hard and work out a lot. Genetically, we are blessed but I have worked so hard
because we just don’t know any different because of my dad.”

Dan, who is the only fighter to hold world titles in two separate weight classes, has always helped Selanee. At one time early in her career, he sponsored her for a few years. Selanee also lived with him for a few years after she graduated from UC Irvine.

POTAWATOMI CUP RESULTS: In addition to the win, Sheils also now leads the Potawatomi Cup standings with 500 points and $3,000. Last year, Min Seo Kwak won the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship and went onto win an additional $18,000 over the course of four events.

This year, the Potawatomi Cup has grown to five events and a total of $50,000 in bonus money.

The next Potawatomi Cup event will be the Four Winds Invitational in South Bend, Indiana from June 19-21 at Blackthorn Golf Club.

Madeleine Sheils gets first Epson Tour win at FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship

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