Epson Tour rookie Melanie Green’s final round was nothing like she expected it. Sitting two shots behind the lead heading into Championship Sunday, the New Yorker felt some nerves while on the quest to claim the second victory of her young professional career.

The 23-year-old carded six birdies on the day to climb to the top of the leaderboard. However, her 4-under 68 was not enough to walk away with the win at the end of regulation. The USF alumna headed back to the 18th tee box for the start of a sudden-death playoff against 17-year-old amateur Gianna Clemente. Clemente also signed for a 4-under 68, after barely missing a 30-foot putt on the final hole to what would have secured the victory.

Green and Clemente started off shaky, both bogeying the first two holes in the playoff, the par-4 18th. Still tied, the athletes and their caddies headed to the 10th tee box for the third and what they hoped to be the last playoff hole. Green and Clemente both made pars on the par-5 10th, but in very different fashion. Clemente hit two shots down the fairway, one on the green and two-putted for par. Green, on the other hand, hit a wayward drive off the tee to find her drive just off the cart path. She then hit her second shot across the fairway on top of a bunker, but in Melanie fashion, ended up tying the hole with a par. Green and Clemente were playing ping pong with holes 10 and 18 at this point, heading back to 18, and both making par. They finally headed to the par-5 10th for the fifth playoff hole.

This time, Melanie Green drained a three-foot putt for not only par, but to hoist her second trophy of the 2025 Epson Tour season. With this win, Green is now back, sitting in No. 1 in the Race for the Card leaderboard, joining Gina Kim, Briana Chacon, Riley Smyth, and Yana Wilson as the only group of players to have two or more wins this year.

“I finished with this awesome three-putt over here in regulation, and I was a little bummed, obviously, but I was really nervous. Then once we figured out that Gianna was actually tied going into 18, and then she made par, we knew that I had to go to a playoff. It was nerve-wracking, but as soon as we started, I was a little calmer. Shane did a really good job of keeping me calm, and I guess in the moment, I did a lot of praying, that's for sure,” commented Green.

Hailee Cooper started the day two shots back of 36-hole leader Yana Wilson, ultimately finishing T3. Cooper could not get things to fall her way on Sunday, ultimately signing for a 2-under 70 and a combined 11-under for the tournament. The Texas native now has eight top-10s this season and is looking forward to carrying this momentum into the final two events with hopes of securing her first professional win.

Isabella Fierro started the day at 4-under par, before lighting it up in her final early morning round on Championship Sunday. Fierro rounded the turn with a strong 4-under 32 on the front nine. The Mexico native did not stop there, making six consecutive birdies in a row on holes seven through 12, ultimately signing for a 7-under 65 to finish the tournament in a tie for third. With this top finish, Fierro jumped seven spots and now sits at No. 15 in the Race for the Card standings and looks to hold her position as there are only two events left of the season.

As the final weeks of the 2025 season approach, the Epson Tour will head off to El Dorado, Arkansas, for the tenth annual Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout at Mystic Creek Golf Club from September 19-21.

Melanie Green Claims Second Professional Win in Rookie Season at the Guardian Championship

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