HARRIS, Mich. June 26, 2016 - Sherman “Champagne” Santiwiwatthanaphong (Thailand) stared the ferocious wind straight in the face and carded a 3-under, 69, to win the Island Resort Championship by two shots at 6-under, 210. Santiwiwatthanaphong made a 50-footer on hole ten to seize control of the tournament and then hung on late. Jackie Stoelting (Vero Beach, Florida) and Madelene Sagstrom (Enkoping, Sweden) finished just short of capturing a third win at 4-under, 212, while Peiyun Chien (Chinese Taipei) also tied for second at 4-under.

The 19-year-old picks up her first win of the 2016 season and her second career win on the Epson Tour. The first-place check of $18,750 moves her from 9th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list to third with a total of $49,523 in just eight starts.

“I’m so happy and proud of myself,” said Santiwiwatthanaphong. “This is a hard golf course and it was very windy so I’m just happy that I came through.”

Santiwiwatthanaphong entered the day two shots off the lead and quickly made up ground. While most of the field was succoming to the wind, Santiwiwatthanaphong made four birdies and no bogeys over her first ten holes including back-to-back birdies on nine and ten to grab a three shot lead. She let the field back in after bogeys on 12 and 13. Following three straight pars, she made a tough birdie on 17 to take a two shot lead. Chien, who was playing three groups behind, made birdies on 14 and 15 to pull within one, but made back-to-back bogeys on 16 and 17 to fall off.

“I feel like I have more confidence now,” said Santiwiwatthanaphong, who was texting with her friend Brooke Henderson after the win. “I really feel like this will help me go to the LPGA next year.”

In her last ten Epson Tour starts, Santiwiwatthanaphong has two wins and five top 10 finishes. She won the 2015 Epson Tour Championship to close her rookie season at 20th on the money list.

Santiwiwatthanaphong will play next week at the Tullymore Classic in Stanwood, Michigan.

Sagstrom now has seven top five finishes in nine starts this season and continues to increase her single-season earnings record, which is now up to $114,157. Stoelting has now finished in the top five in three straight events and crossed over $60,000 with her tie for second. Both will take the next week off to prepare for the U.S. Women’s Open.

POPOV TIES TOURNAMENT RECORD WITH 66: Sophia Popov usually warms up for 40-50 minutes. She was the first player off this morning for a scheduled 7:30 a.m., but due to 2.3 inches of overnight rain, she didn’t tee until 8:30. Therefore, she wound up warming up for two hours. It worked as she tied a tournament record with a 6-under, 66 to move from T50 to T5.

The turning point came on hole 13 when she dropped an eagle from 118-yards out.

“I hit a good drive and I had pitching wedge in and I knew it was a good shot and there was a guy behind the green that raised his arms and said ‘it’s in’ so that was cool,” said Popov. “It was only the second shot I’ve holed out in my entire career so that was crazy.”

Popov made birdie on 14 and then another birdie on 16. She nearly poured in an 20-footer on 18, but settled for par on her final two holes.

“I probably hit to four or five feet quite a few times to make it easier on myself,” explained Popov. “I also had a long par putt on eight and had no bogeys on the day.”

Interestingly enough, Popov said she was ‘frustrated’ and ‘bored’ at the start of the day because of her long warm up routine. She was also a little curious how playing as a single would work out.

“It was a little weird going out as a single, but I got into the round pretty well and hit some really good shots on one,” said Popov. “I’m not going to lie, it was my pace, I love playing fast. It was nice to do everything at my speed.”

Popov will take next week off and prepare for the U.S. Women’s Open in two weeks. It also will help her standing on the Volvik Race for the Card money list.

“I know I have some money to make up on the money list and I know it’s going to be tough towards the end of the season,” said Popov. “I was thinking it was going to be a low money event so this is really nice. I really hope I stay inside the top 10.”

Island Resort Championship Sunday News & Notes

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