The season started with a minor jolt, literally. Hannah O’Sullivan, a 16-year-old sponsor exemption into the Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club won the first event and became the youngest player to ever win on the Epson Tour. The youth movement has definitely been one of the early themes.

17-year-old Brooke Henderson won the Four Winds Invitational last week and became the third youngest player to ever win. Two sponsor exemptions have already won through 11 events - amazing! O’Sullivan and Henderson are not the only teenagers that have won. 18-year-old Haruka Morita–WanyaoLu won the Epson Classic in Charlotte.

Yes, maybe the teenagers grab the headlines on a Tour with the motto of “Road to the LPGA” but a veteran, Jimin Kang, has reemerged with one official win (Mission Health Wellness Classic) and one unofficial win (Decatur-Forsyth Classic). She’s now second on the money list in just six events played and her worst finish is T23. Jimin, only T23! Even last week when she didn’t have her best stuff in the first two rounds (73-73), she posted a 66 on Sunday to finish T11.

The other big theme in the first half was first-time winners and not necessarily rookies. The biggest purse of the half was gobbled up by Alejandra Llaneza, who hit the bunker shot of her life on the 72^nd hole, to edge Casey Grice. Llaneza is in her fourth year on the Epson Tour. Katie Kempter birdied three straight holes to catch Lee Lopez at the Volvik Championship and then won in a playoff to claim her first career win. This is her sixth year on Tour. Madeleine Sheils closed with the a stellar flop shot on the 54^th hole to win the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship. This is her third year on Tour and she said after that it felt like a lifetime of events without a win.

One of the most talked about events of the half was the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial, an event that combined the Epson Tour and the Legends Tour. In the end, rookie Augusta James stole the show with a 67 on the final day to win by four. Laurie Rinker won the Legends Tour event and they stood side-by-side on the 18^th green with their Chico’s Leopard Jackets. Priceless.

The first half was certainly not just about the winners. It is interesting to note that there are four players inside the top 10 that have not won and players No. 11 (Maude-Aimee Leblanc), No 12 (Lindy Duncan) and No. 13 (Daniela Iacobelli) are also without a win. It really shows how consistent Brianna Do (No. 3), Giulia Molinaro (No. 6), Lee Lopez (No. 8) and Casey Grice (No. 9) have been. All four have at least one 2nd place finish. Molinaro has finished in the top 10 in over 71 percent of her starts. Her worst finish besides an unexpected missed cut in California is a T12 for the Epson Classic. Again, common Giulia, just T12!

Recently, the Sunday leader has not fared well in the final-round. It’s a trend to monitor as players learn to manage the pressure of a trophy and a check. Last week, Dottie Ardina held a three shot lead on Sunday, but was surpassed by Henderson after carding a 3-over 75. Three weeks ago in Battle Creek, Chie Arimura had a two shot lead on Sunday and posted a 4-over 76 as Sheils came from behind to win. Most of the events have definitely produced Sunday drama. There have been two playoffs (Volvik Championship and Epson Classic) and some great finishes.

The Island Resort Championship was a turning point last year for Molly Aronsson, who won, and Sadena Parks, who finished second. Will we see another first-time winner or will we have our first two-time winner of the year? Another storyline to follow this week is the No. 1 spot on the money list. Current No. 1 Llaneza withdrew on Monday to play in the LPGA event.

It was a fun opening dash of the season. It’s time to kick it into high gear and see which ten cross the Volvik Race for the Card finish line and earn 2016 LPGA membership.

Volvik Race for the Card: Island Resort Championship A Turning Point

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