Epson Tour sophomore Leah John drained her closing putt on the 18th inexperienced at South Bend Nation Membership to assert the primary skilled victory of her profession. John began the week with a brand new private finest, posting a 9-under bogey-free 63 on Friday, making the celebratory second much more significant.
Regardless of having a three-shot lead heading into Championship Sunday, the Canadian felt some nerves after bogeying the primary gap. The 25-year-old carded 4 birdies on the day to carry her 36-hole lead and end the event with a complete of 9-under par.
“I used to be tremendous excited to play with Melanie (Inexperienced) and Leo right this moment, so I used to be simply wanting ahead to the day and studying from her and her experiences, and simply prioritizing pleasure, sticking to my recreation plan, and simply seeing the place the day takes me,” stated John. “I used to be prepared for something that got here.”
The College of Nevada graduate settled in shortly, making three birdies in a row on holes 5, six, and 7, posting a 1-under 36 on her opening 9. The nerves bought the most effective of John as she made a bogey and double-bogey to start out out her again 9, however dug deep to discover a birdie on 16 in her closing stretch to put up a 2-over 74.
Melanie Inexperienced and Jennifer Chang began the day simply three photographs again of John, in the end ending in a share of second place. Inexperienced, the winner of the Island Resort Championship introduced by Delta County Chamber, put an eagle and one birdie on her card through the spherical however posted an excellent par 72 and was unable to safe her second victory.
Chang couldn’t get issues to fall her approach on Sunday, carding an excellent par 72 and a mixed 8-under for the event. Regardless of not being within the closing pairing, the 25-year-old made two birdies, posting an excellent par entrance facet. The College of Southern California alumna, discovered a birdie and a bogey on her ending 9 to safe her runner-up end.
John, a first-time Epson Tour champion, jumped 77 spots within the Race for the Card standings after receiving 500 factors from her win on the 4 Winds Invitational. That is John’s highest rank of the 2025 season, quantity 22, placing the Canadian in a great place to climb her approach into the highest 15 with 5 tournaments remaining.
“It’s tremendous particular,” John stated of the win. “I stated earlier that I like golf due to the sport, however I believe I like it extra due to the folks in it. It’s simply good to have a day like this, to symbolize all of the exhausting work and the communities which have helped me alongside the best way.”
As the ultimate week of the Northeast stretch involves a detailed, the Epson Tour will get pleasure from a well-deserved week off earlier than touring to Pendleton, Oregon, for the fourth enjoying of the Wildhorse Girls Golf Basic at Wildhorse Golf Course from August 15-17.
