The Epson Tour is making its second stop of a three-tournament swing through Michigan this week, traveling further up the Mitten State and toward the Upper Peninsula. The stage is set for the inaugural Great Lakes Championship at the Highlands presented by Johnnie Walker, providing Epson Tour athletes with another opportunity to land themselves in the winner’s circle and move up the season-long Race for the Card standings.

Here are three things to know about the first edition of the Great Lakes Championship:

Inaugural Tournament

The inaugural tournament was first announced in 2024, a welcome addition to the beloved Michigan swing for the 2025 season. Placed in the middle of two long-standing Epson Tour events, the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship and the Island Resort Championship presented by Delta County Chamber, athletes will now travel from Battle Creek to Harbor Springs, Mich., ultimately ending their time in the Great Lakes State in Harris before heading to Columbus, Ind.

The 144-player field will take on The Heather Course at The Highlands from June 13-15, and a share of a $250,000 total purse is up for grabs. The winner will receive $37,500 and 500 points toward the season-long Race for the Card, which is heating up with each tournament that passes. The Epson Tour is nearly at the halfway point of the season, making every point earned, and every event played incredibly critical to an athlete’s success as the 2025 schedule begins to wind down.

Second Event in the Pure Michigan Cup

New to 2025 and in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the three Michigan tournaments collectively created the Pure Michigan Cup, awarding athletes with bonus money in addition to the three tournament purses.

The Pure Michigan Cup will award $20,000 in bonus money to the top three point earners at the conclusion of the three Michigan events, with Cup points being awarded at the end of each tournament, mirroring the points earned in the Epson Tour’s season-long Race for the Card. To be eligible to earn the bonus money, athletes must compete in all three tournaments.

After one week of intense competition at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship, Samantha Wagner leads the way in the standings, but a win at the Great Lakes Championship could put someone near the top and maybe vault them into the lead. An update on the current Pure Michigan Cup standings can be found HERE.

One Michigan Native and Six College Grads Return to the Mitten State

Only one Michigan native will be teeing it up at the Great Lakes Championship at the Highlands presented by Johnnie Walker this year. Sarah White, who hails from Grand Rapids, will represent her home state, while also representing her new sponsor and sponsor of the tournament, Boyne Golf. White has made six cuts in seven starts on the Epson Tour so far this season, making her a true contender to take home a trophy in her native Michigan.

Outside of White, six other athletes have local ties to the area, having formerly competed for the University of Michigan or Michigan State University. Ashley Lau, Monet Chun and Hailey Borja will be representing the Wolverines, while Valery Plata, Yurika Tanida and Brooke Biermann are former MSU Spartans. Having plenty of experience playing Michigan courses and contending with Michigan weather, the group of five should have a bit of an edge over the rest of the field during this swing, something they will be very much looking to use to their advantage in a familiar locale.

Three Things to Know About the 2025 Great Lakes Championship

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