Island Resort Championship
Sweetgrass Golf Club
Harris, Mich.
June 25, 2015
Pre-Tournament Notes

HARRIS, Mich., June 25, 2015 – The Epson Tour, the Road to the LPGA Tour, reaches its midway point - 11 events down and 12 to go - this week at the Island Resort Championship. The three-round event will begin on Friday, June 26, and run through Sunday, June 28, at Sweetgrass Golf Club.

The 144 player field will be competing for a share of a $125,000 purse with a top prize of $18,700. The top-10 on the year-end Volvik Race for the Card money list will receive their LPGA Tour cards for the 2016 season.

Play will begin off the first and tenth tees starting at 7:30 a.m. on Friday.

EPSON TOUR PLAYERS LOVE ISLAND RESORT CHAMPIONSHIP: The Island Resort Championship is entering its fifth season on the schedule and players continue to rave about the week in Harris.

“I love it. It’s a great place,” said Veronica Felibert.

Players have spent the first few days of the weeks enjoying practice rounds, the casino and the UP hospitality.

“For us to feel that welcomed is really special and it makes you feel wanted,” Carly Werwie explained.

Play begins tomorrow at 7:30 a.m.

“It’s a little hidden gem up here,” Brittany Benvenuto added. “Not too many people may know about it but we really like coming up here.”

SPONSOR INVITE HOPING SECOND TIME IS A CHARM: Amateur sponsor invite Avery Rochester missed the cut last season while competing in her first Island Resort Championship. The Marquette native is hoping that the second time is a charm as she will get another shot this year.

“It was definitely a learning experience last year watching the other ladies golf I learned a lot from them,” Rochester said. “I think it will be a little bit easier this time around for my nerves. I don’t think the course is going to play any easier, that’s for sure but hopefully I can play better than I did last year.”

FIRST ANNUAL FISHING DERBY IS A HIT: A unique event that is new to the Island Resort Championship this year was a fishing derby that took place on Thursday afternoon.
24 players, in teams of two, went out to the island green on the 15th hole and, with the help of a local fishing group, will tried to catch the largest fish.

“This is awesome. I’m having a great time,” Ohio native Allie White said during the event. “I love fishing. I’m all about the fish.”

While the golfers skills and experience fishing varied they all seemed to enjoy their days on the pond.

“I’m an amateur dock fisher so I very much enjoyed it,” said Caroline Powers. “I like being outside. I like the serenity so it’s great.”

2013 CHAMPION KIM KAUFMAN MAKING HER MARK ON THE LPGA: 2013 Island Resort Championship winner Kim Kaufman has been making a name for herself on the LPGA with four top-10s and almost $400,000 in career earnings.

In 2013, playing only her third professional event, Kaufman outdueled Mitsuki Katahira in a one-playoff to secure her first professional victory.

The South Dakota native currently ranks 98th in the Rolex Rankings and is making a late push to make the U.S. Solheim Cup team.

Kaufman qualified for the LPGA by finishing tied for 23rd at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament in 2013 to earn Priority List Category 17 for the 2014 LPGA Tour season.

Island Resort Championship Thursday Pre-tournament News & Notes

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