Island Resort Championship to be played at Sweetgrass from June 21-23
HARRIS, MICHIGAN –The excitement is building as the Island Resort Championship at Sweetgrass approaches, set to take place from June 21-23, 2024. Hosted by Island Resort & Casino, this highly anticipated event has solidified its reputation as one of the premier professional golf tournaments in the upper Midwest, drawing 144 professional women golfers to compete at the renowned Sweetgrass Golf Club.
As part of the Epson Tour – known as the “Road to the LPGA,” this tournament serves as a pivotal stage for players aspiring to join the ranks of the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour, promising thrilling competition and showcasing the talent of top female golfers. These athletes will be competing for prize money totaling $225,000 at the event, now in its 13th year.
“It’s the perfect opportunity to see up-and-coming pro golfers with the potential to be on the LPGA tour in the next few years,” said Tony Mancilla, General Manager of Island Resort & Casino and Tournament Director. “Over the past decade, the Epson Tour has grown substantially, and we are excited to be a part of it. The athletes’ abilities have improved and today the tour offers bigger purses. Not to mention the higher quality venues participating in the tour,” Mancilla added.
The winner of the Island Resort Championship at Sweetgrass will take home a trophy, a tribal honor quilt handmade by an elder of the Hannahville Indian Community, and a check for $33,750. In 2023, the winner was Tsai Ching Tseng (Tainan City, Chinese Taipei). The Island Resort Championship was her first career win, in the same year she turned professional. Tseng hopes to defend her title this year but knows how she prepares is key.
“Definitely mentally. I think because I know there’s great players out here, so to be able to beat them just means a lot,” said Tseng. “I remember so many people were out there and cheering for us. I can’t wait to be back.”
The Epson Tour is the Official Qualifying Tour of the LPGA, where players earn LPGA Tour Membership through the Epson Tour’s Race for the Card. From 1999-2002, LPGA Tour cards were awarded to the top 3 individuals on the season’s money list. Beginning in 2024, 15 LPGA cards will be distributed to top points earners over the 20-event season. Each regular season event offers the winner 500 points, and the Epson Tour Championship in Indian Wells, CA offers 650 points as the season finale.
Since the inaugural year, 192 players have graduated from the Epson Tour and advanced to the LPGA Tour. Mancilla noted that most of the Island Resort Championship winners have gone on to earn their LPGA card.
Fans are encouraged to bring a chair or utilize the bleachers by the nine and eighteen greens, as well as at the center of the course. They are also welcome to follow golfers as they play their rounds and can get autographs and photos taken with golfers at the end of their rounds. Food and beverages are available on the course, and food costs just $3.
Tickets to the June tournament are $10 for adults and free for 17 and under with an adult. Tickets are on-sale now at local non-profits, with proceeds going to the charities that sell them. A list of participating organizations can be found online at www.IslandResortGolf.com
Located in Michigan’s scenic Upper Peninsula 15 minutes west of Escanaba, Island Resort & Casino is one of the Midwest’s largest golf, casino and entertainment resort destinations. The resort features over 450 guest rooms, more than 1,200 of the latest slots, a poker room, various gaming tables and a bingo hall, two championship golf courses, the luxurious Drift Spa, an RV Park, a headline entertainment showroom, a dedicated Sportsbook space, a pool with waterpark features, a customizable, expansive convention space and enough dining choices to please every palate. The Island Resort and Casino is truly your total resort destination. It is easily accessible via two regional airports in Escanaba and Marquette connecting through Detroit, Saginaw, Lansing or Grand Rapids. Plan your stay today, then get ready to enjoy your total experience at the Island! For more information, visit www.islandresortandcasino.com.
About the Epson Tour:
The Epson Tour is the official qualifying tour of the LPGA Tour and enters its 44th competitive season in 2024. With the support of entitlement partner Seiko Epson Corporation, the Tour’s mission is to prepare the world’s best female professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour. In the last decade, the Epson Tour has grown from 15 tournaments and $1.6 million in prize money to $5 million awarded across 20 events in 2024. With more than 600 graduates and alumnae moving on to the LPGA Tour, former Epson Tour players have won 480 LPGA titles.
Follow the Epson Tour at www.epsontour.com, as well as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
