Three EPSON Tour Events to Blitz Michigan in June
By Tom Lang
For golf fans seeking relaxed tournament settings combined with fabulous women’s golf competition, the Epson Tour might be just the right fit.
The ‘Race for the Card’ series leading to an LPGA Tour card will have three consecutive tournaments starting with the Firekeepers Hotel & Casino Championship in Battle Creek, June 12-14. Then they travel to Boyne Highlands the following week to play the Greta Lakes Championship. The trio concludes in the Upper Peninsula at the Island Resort Championship at Sweetgrass Golf Club, June 26-28.
Players who compete in all three events become eligible to win extra money via the Pure Michigan Cup. A total of $20,000 will be split between the top three points earners based on finishes in all three events, in addition to their tournament winnings. A special trophy ceremony at the Island Resort Championship will conclude the inaugural Cup.
Riley Smyth picked up her second Epson Tour victory of 2025 at the inaugural Great Lakes Championship – played on the famous Heather Course at Boyne Highlands. She defeated LPGA Tour veteran, Isi Gabsa and Epson Tour rookies, Laney Frye and Erika Hara.
Smith ranked 2nd overall in 2025 for driving distance at 266 yards, recording five top-10 finishes, including a second win at the Central Florida Championship. Ultimately for 2025, she finished seventh in the Epson Tour's Race for the Card standings to earn LPGA Tour membership for the 2026 season.
Pro-Ams are a life-blood for professional tournaments raising money for charity, and they are offered at all three locations if you are interested. But at Boyne they are adding a Pro-Junior event to be played on the all par 3 Doon Brae golf course, June 18 for ages 7-17.
The Island Resort Championship winner in 2025, Riley Green, is also finding success this year on the LPGA Tour, with two early top 10s. Through weather delays and overnight suspensions last year, Green powered through, ultimately defeating LPGA Tour member Kate Smith-Stroh and Epson Tour veteran Haylee Harford. The 14-under performance was just three shots shy of tying the tournament 54-hole scoring record. The Island Resort Championship is in its 15th year of competition.
It has a $225,000 purse and the tournament champion will receive a $33,750 winner’s check, a championship trophy and a tribal honor quilt handmade by an elder of the Hannahville Indian Community — a unique tradition that reflects the culture and spirit behind the event.
“With each passing year, the excitement continues to grow,” said Tournament Co-chairman Tony Mancilla. “Our volunteers return year after year with incredible energy, our employees love meeting players from around the world, and the level of competition keeps getting better. Whether you golf, follow sports or are looking for a fun event to attend with your family, this is something you don’t want to miss.”
The players list for all three events can change, but at least three Michiganders are expected to play in them.
Sarah White is an East Kentwood High graduate. She’s the sister to Brett White on the PGA Korn Ferry Tour. Sarah was the Michigan high school D1 state champ in 2014. Post college, White won the Founders Tribute at Longbow Golf Club as an amateur in 2020, launching her pro career. She won that event over pro Sophia Popov, who in the following week went overseas and won the Women’s British Open.
Daniela Iacobelli, a Southeast Michigan native who moved south as a junior player, won the Island Resort Championship in 2019, a won an Epson event prior to that at Tullymore in 2015. She has five Epson career wins.
Brooke Biermann is a recent Michigan State graduate who just recently turned pro. Biermann placed runner up in the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur. She also earned an invitation to Augusta National where she missed the cut by just one stroke at the recent Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
