BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — The 15th stop on the Epson Tour is Battle Creek, Mich., for the fifth annual FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship from Aug. 17-19 at Battle Creek Country Club.

A 144-player field is set to compete for a purse of $100,000 in a 54-hole stroke play format, with a cut to be made after 36 holes to the low 60 players and ties.

“This event has been a great addition since coming on in 2014, with the Cereal City serving as a very welcoming and gracious host community,” said Mike Nichols, the Chief Business Officer of the Epson Tour. “Battle Creek Country Club is a classic old school track that will test all aspects of a player’s game. Huge trees and tricky greens will produce a fitting champion, and setup for a great final stretch in the Volvik Race for the Card.”

Defending champion Erynne Lee (Silverdale, Washington) was a 2017 Epson Tour graduate, so she will not be among the competitors in the Great Lake State this week. However, 2014 winner Min Seo Kwak (Seoul, Republic of Korea) is and looks to become the event’s first two-time winner.

“The FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship was the cherry on top for me because it most likely helped me secure a top-10 finish and my LPGA Tour card,” Lee said. “It was very exciting to win the event, especially since I had missed the cut the previous year. This tournament is part of a crucial time to play consistent and earn as much money as possible because the Volvik Race for the Card will get tight toward the end.”

Meanwhile, with the host venue located only 60 miles from the Michigan State University (MSU) campus, four Spartans are in the field. They include alumna Allyssa Ferrell(Edgerton, Wisconsin), Christine Meier (Rochester Hills, Michigan) and Liz Nagel (DeWitt, Michigan), as well as amateur, sponsor exemption and MSU junior Allyson Geer(Lansing, Michigan).

For Meier, Battle Creek Country Club holds a special place in her heart. She won the Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) Women’s Championship here at the age of 17.

“I love this week, it feels good to come back to a place where there are so many positives,” said Meier, who tees at 7:52 a.m. ET off No. 10 on Friday with Ferrell and Nagel. “It’s pretty neat to have a big group of Spartans out here. My sister lives in Lansing now and she’s going to come caddy, as well.”

Action will begin at 7:30 a.m. ET each of the three days with play off No. 1 and No. 10 tees in the first and second round on Friday and Saturday, respectively. The final round will feature all pairings starting on No. 1 tee with a trophy presentation on No. 18 green once play is complete.

FIREKEEPERS CASINO HOTEL CHAMPIONSHIP - PAST CHAMPIONS AND RUNNERS-UP

2017: Erynne Lee, 204 (-12); Benyapa Niphatsophon, 206 (-10)

2016: Laura Gonzalez Escallon, 129 (-15); Ally McDonald, 135 (-9)*

2015: Madeleine Sheils, 206 (-10); Lindy Duncan, 208 (-8)

2014: Min Seo Kwak, 204 (-12); Daniela Iacobelli, 207 (-9)

*Tournament shortened to 36-holes due to severe storm in the area

FIREKEEPERS CASINO HOTEL CHAMPIONSHIP - TOURNAMENT SCORING RECORDS

18 holes: 64 (-8), Laura Gonzalez Escallon, 2016 (Round 2)

36 holes: 129 (-15), Laura Gonzalez Escallon, 2016

54 holes: 204 (-12), Min Seo Kwak, 2014, 204 (-12), Erynne Lee, 2017

2018 EPSON TOUR TOURNAMENT WINNERS IN THE FIELD (10 of 14):

Stephanie Meadow (IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa), Elizabeth Szokol (IOA Invitational), Vicky Hurst (Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women’s Health Classic), Louise Ridderstrom (Valley Forge Invitational), Maia Schechter (Four Winds Invitational), Isi Gabsa (Forsyth Classic presented by Decatur Park District), Ruixin Liu (Island Resort Championship), Muni He (Prasco Charity Championship), Eun Jeong Seong (Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic), Kendall Dye (Fuccillo Kia Classic of NY)

2018 EPSON TOUR ROOKIES IN THE FIELD (31):

Lakareber Abe, Pajaree Anannarukarn, Matilda Castren, Camille Chevalier, Sandy Choi, Youngin Chun, Casey Danielson, Fatima Fernandez Cano, Kelly Gassel, Muni He, Mary Hallow, Julian Hollis, Nuria Iturrios, Cheyenne Knight, Gabby Lemieux, Huize Lian, Leona Maguire, Lindsey McCurdy, Morgane Metraux, Haley Mills, Anneliese Newell, Wad Phaewchimplee, Krystal Quihuis, Agathe Sauzon, Eun Jeong Seong, Anne Van Dam, Karolina Vlckova, Samantha Wagner, Ale Walker, Celine Yuan, Panitta Yusabai

SPONSOR INVITES (2):

Marissa Dodd, Alyson Geer (a)

2018 STATISTICAL LEADERS (through August 15)

Official Money: Dottie Ardina, $69,453

Scoring Average: Eun Jeong Seong, 69.880

Driving Distance Average: Anne Van Dam, 292.529

Eagles: Desiree Dubreuil, 7

Birdies: Linnea Strom, 153

Greens in Regulation: Cheyenne Knight, 84.5%

2018 AWARD STANDINGS

Epson Player of the Year: Dottie Ardina

Rookie of the Year: Jenny Haglund

2018 WINS BY COUNTRY (14 tournaments, 14 different winners from 6 countries)

7 – United States (Lauren Kim, Elizabeth Szokol, Vicky Hurst, Maia Schechter, Stephanie Kono, Kendall Dye, Lauren Kim)

2 – Sweden (Jenny Haglund, Louise Ridderstrom)

2 – China (Ruixin Liu, Muni He)

1 – Northern Ireland (Stephanie Meadow)

1 – Germany (Isi Gabsa

1 – Republic of Korea (Eun Seong Jeong)

2018 WINS BY PLAYER (14 tournaments, 14 players)

1: Lauren Kim (Florida’s Natural Charity Classic)

1: Stephanie Meadow (IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa

1: Elizabeth Szokol (IOA Invitational)

1: Vicky Hurst (Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women’s Health Classic)

1: Jenny Haglund (Epson Classic)

1: Louise Ridderstrom (Valley Forge Invitational)

1: Maia Schechter (Four Winds Invitational)

1: Isi Gabsa (The Forsyth Classic presented by the Decatur Park District)

1: Ruixin Liu (Island Resort Championship)

1: Muni He (Prasco Charity Championship)

1: Stephanie Kono (Donald Ross Classic at French Lick)

1: Eun Jeong Seong (Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic)

1: Kendall Dye (Fuccillo Kia Classic of NY)

1: Lauren Coughlin* (PHC Classic)

*as a LPGA member

FIRST-TIME WINNERS (12)

Lauren Kim (Florida’s Natural Charity Classic), Stephanie Meadow (IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa), Elizabeth Szokol (IOA Invitational), Jenny Haglund (Epson Classic), Louise Ridderstrom (Valley Forge Invitational), Maia Schechter (Four Winds Invitational), Isi Gabsa (The Forsyth Classic presented by the Decatur Park District), Ruixin Liu (Island Resort Championship), Muni He (Prasco Charity Championship), Stephanie Kono (Donald Ross Classic at French Lick), Eun Jeong Seong (Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic), Lauren Coughlin as a LPGA Tour member (PHC Classic)

FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship Top Storylines

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