BACK-TO-BACK

GEORGIA’S JESSICA WELCH WINS AGAIN IN MICHIGAN PGA WOMEN’S OPEN AT CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN

Crystal Mountain
THOMPSONVILLE – She might hail from Thomasville, Ga., but she feels right at home in Thompsonville of the Mitten State, and specifically at Crystal ...Mountain.
LPGA Epson Tour player Jessica Welch shot a closing 2-under-par 70 on the Mountain Ridge Course Wednesday and for the second consecutive year was a wire-to-wire winner in the 32nd Michigan PGA Women’s Open Championship presented by Coca-Cola.
Her 9-under 211 total was four shots better than runner-up Ana Murcia, a Michigan State University golfer from Colombia, who shot 71 for 211 and was the low amateur in the championship.
The 31-year-old Welch, who earned $8,000 for the win, is only the second golfer to win consecutive Michigan Women’s Opens, and the first to do it in 24 years. Elaine Crosby of Jackson, who played this week in the Senior Division, won consecutive championships in 2000 and 2001 after her long LPGA career.
Welch, who was 2-under on the front nine after almost holing out her approach shot on the par 5 ninth hole, said her theme for the week was coming home, and in a trophy ceremony speech thanked God, the Michigan PGA, 23-year host Crystal Mountain, her fellow competitors and her local host housing family, Steve and Pam Perry.
“I’m not sure everyone realizes how lonely it can get out here on the road playing golf, and how many pits you can find yourself in,” she said. “So, to have a place like this to come back to, and to get to see Pam and Steve every year, you just kind of get to breathe easier for a week. And I can’t tell you how special that is, and how special of a place Crystal Mountain is, and I hope we get to come back for a lot more years.”
Murcia, who was playing in the final group, said Welch never faltered and that she learned a lot playing with an Epson Tour player.
“I wanted to make her feel a little bit of pressure, but I’m pretty sure she didn’t feel much,” she said. “She had a good lead, and she doesn’t make many mistakes. I feel like I learned a lot from her and it’s good for me to be around pro players like that.”
Welch said she enjoys playing the Mountain Ridge course and it shows in her game.
“I was talking with Ana (Murcia) about it, I think on 18, and I told her you can score on this course, but you better keep it in play,” she said. “If you start going left and right and you're scrambling, especially on days like Monday where it was super windy, you appreciate par and you appreciate having birdie putts.”
Olivia Stoll of Haslett, a Grand Valley State University golfer, shot 72 for 2-under 214 to finish third, and Elise Fennell of Caledonia, an Illinois State University golfer, shot 72 for 215 to finish fourth.
Two golfers closed at even-par 216, Saginaw Valley State University golfer Brook Herbstreit of Fenton, who shot 71, and Josee Doyon of Boynton Beach, Fla., who closed with a 68 and was second among the professionals in the field.
Welch said the key shot for her was at No. 9.
“I made a bogey on No. 8 with a bad wedge shot, and then on nine I hit a wedge that backed up and almost went in the hole. It left me a two-inch putt for birdie and getting to 2-under with nine holes to go, I just kind of exhaled a bit more.”
She said the check for winning will help as she heads to Indiana and back to the Epson Tour.
“Any time you can remove one stress factor it makes a world of difference, especially in this lifestyle, and especially the monetary impact,” she said. “It helps you breathe easier and swing easier and goodness knows that helps.”
Welch wasn’t the only repeat winner on the day.
Suzy Green-Roebuck of Ann Arbor, the former LPGA player and only three-time winner of the Michigan PGA Women’s Open, won the Senior Division competition for the second consecutive year.
Green rallied from behind with a 4-under 68 and finished with an 8-under 208 total, topping Cheryl Fox of Fostoria Country Club in Ohio by four shots. Fox, who had a hole-in-one in a 64 in the second round, shot 74 to close. Canada’s Gail Graham shot 69 for 219 and third.
Green, a Michigan Golf Hall of Famer, said she enjoyed the Senior Division competition and opportunity to compete.
“I thought Cherly was going to shoot 59 yesterday with the way she kept pouring in putts, so I knew today that I had to get it under 70 and see what might happen,” she said. “I played well, missed a few easy birdie putts early. Then I made like a 60-footer for birdie on No. 12 for birdie that got me closer, and then on 17 I made a not-so-easy birdie putt from about 12-feet. That was big and it always feels great to win and to come up here to Crystal Mountain.”

ABOUT CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN: Established in 1956, Crystal Mountain is a family-owned, four-season resort destination located 28 miles southwest of Traverse City and a short drive from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The 1,500-acre resort features lodging, dining, downhill and cross-country skiing, two championship golf courses, shopping, award-winning Crystal Spa, Michigan’s only alpine slide, Peak Fitness, the Park at Water’s Edge, Michigan Legacy Art Park, weddings, a conference center, and real estate options.

SPONSORS: The tournament’s presenting sponsor is Coca-Cola, a long-time partner of Crystal Mountain. Visit Michigan PGA Women's Open Tournament | Crystal Mountain Michigan to see the sponsor support of the championship.

AMATEURS ARE COMING

GEORGIA’S JESSICA WELCH BEING CHASED IN MICHIGAN PGA WOMEN’S OPEN AT CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN

Crystal Mountain

THOMPSONVILLE – Defending champion and LPGA Epson Tour player Jessica Welch of Thomasville, Ga., had the lead for the second consecutive day,... but a bevy of talented amateur golfers were chasing her.
“They get better and younger every year,” said Welch, who is 31 and attempting to go back-to-back in the 32nd Michigan PGA Women’s Open Championship presented by Coca-Cola and hosted by Crystal Mountain.
Welch shot a 4-under 68 on Tuesday to post a 7-under two-round 137 total on the Mountain Ridge Course. It left her three shots ahead of two Big Ten Conference golfers who were tied for second, and four more collegiate golfers and a high school standout who held the next five spots.
The final round of the $40,000 championship is Wednesday. The winning professional will pocket $8,000. A two-tee format will be used with the final group scheduled to start play at 9:40 a.m.
“It’s probably going to take another 68 or better because someone is going to go low,” said Welch who led wire-to-wire in winning a year ago. “There’s a bunch of talented kids out there. I will stick to my plan for this course, though. I have great memories to draw on here, and in the end, for me, it’s always fall back on my routine.”
Ana Murcia of Colombia, who plays at Michigan State University, shot a 66 to post 140, and she was tied for second with Lauren Timpf of Macomb and Purdue University, who shot 67.
Olivia Stoll of Haslett and Grand Valley State University, who shot 71, was next at 142, and Elise Fennell of Caledonia and Illinois State University, who shot 71, was in fifth place at 143.
Next came Brook Herbstreit of Fenton and Saginaw Valley State University, who shot 72 for 145, and the two amateurs at 146 were Lily Bargamian of Grosse Ile and Oakland University, who shot 68, and Grace Slocum, the 2024 Division 4 individual state high school champion for Traverse City St. Francis High School, who shot 73.
The top pros on the leaderboard behind Welch were tied for ninth with two more amateur collegiate players.
Timpf, who will be a sophomore at Purdue in the fall and has been a Golf Association of Michigan Player of the Year and high school golf’s Miss Golf among many other accolades, said she was a little surprised to be in the final group and chasing Welch on Wednesday.
“Honestly, just a few days ago I was still struggling with my swing,” she said. “I texted my coach because he had watched me play all season and he gave me a few tips. I started hitting the ball better right away and it feels great to put together a good round.”
Timpf said she is excited to be in contention.
“It’s the first time this season I’ve been in this spot, and I feel like I’ve worked really hard to get here,” she said. “Being in contention is a really, really good feeling.”
Welch, who had six birdies and two bogeys in her second round, said final rounds are unpredictable.
“There’s always a different vibe on the final round,” she said. “I’m burning a little bit right now because I missed a short putt on 18 for birdie, but golf giveth and taketh away. I’m going to put that behind me and get ready for tomorrow. I’ve been there before and I’m counting on that to help me."
The lowest score on the course on Tuesday came from the Senior Division tees.
Cheryl Fox, the director of golf at Fostoria (Ohio) Country Club, shot 64 with a hole-in-one on the par 3 second hole and had the Senior Division lead through two rounds.
She checked in at 138, two ahead of Michigan Golf Hall of Famer and defending champion Suzy Green-Roebuck, who shot 70 for 140.
In the 36-hole tournament inside the tournament, the Michigan Women’s PGA Professional Championship, Kelly Kuhlman of Rochester, a teaching pro at Twin Lakes Golf & Swim Club, shot a final 85 for 168 and her first win in the championship. She won by six shots over Karen VandenBerg of Battle Creek Country Club.

ABOUT CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN: Established in 1956, Crystal Mountain is a family-owned, four-season resort destination located 28 miles southwest of Traverse City and a short drive from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The 1,500-acre resort features lodging, dining, downhill and cross-country skiing, two championship golf courses, shopping, award-winning Crystal Spa, Michigan’s only alpine slide, Peak Fitness, the Park at Water’s Edge, Michigan Legacy Art Park, weddings, a conference center, and real estate options.

SPONSORS: The tournament’s presenting sponsor is Coca-Cola, a long-time partner of Crystal Mountain. Visit Michigan PGA Women's Open Tournament | Crystal Mountain Michigan to see the sponsor support of the championship.

ROCHESTER TEACHING PRO KELLY KUHLMAN WINS MICHIGAN PGA WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Crystal Mountain

THOMPSONVILLE – Kelly Kuhlman, a PGA teaching professional from Rochester, had come close in previous Michigan PGA Women’s Professional Championships.
As in ...second, twice.
The third time was the charm. She shot 85 for 168 on the Mountain Ridge Course at Crystal Mountain Tuesday to win the 36-hole tournament being presented in conjunction with the 54-hole Michigan PGA Women’s Open Championship.
She posed for a photo afterward with her son Leo, who is 14, and she said she was excited to win.
“I teach a lot, so when you are teaching you are not practicing or playing as much as you want,” she said. “So, I really had to grind out there. Overall, I was pretty happy with my shot decisions. Our game plan was to just kind of piece it together and it happened.”
She won by six shots over Battle Creek Country Club teaching pro Karen VandenBerg, who had a 174 total.
Kuhlman, 46, teaches at Twin Lakes Golf & Swim Club during the golf season and has an indoor facility (Kuhlman Golf) in the winter.

Kuhlman Golf at Twin Lakes Golf Academy

STARTING WITH A BANG

FOX MAKES ACE, CROSBY MAKES EAGLE EARLY IN SECOND ROUND OF MICHIGAN PGA WOMEN’S OPEN AT CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN

The second round of the Michigan PGA Women’s Open Championship presented by Coca-Cola is off to an ace of a start today.
Playing in the Senior ...Division, Cheryl Fox, the director of golf at Fostoria Country Club in Fostoria, Ohio, made a hole-in-one just minutes ago on hole No. 2. The picturesque par 3 is playing from just over 130 yards for the Senior Division.
Suzy Green-Roebuck and Elaine Crosby, two former LPGA golfers playing in the same group, posed with her just after it happened, and Green sent a quick phone photo to the media center.
Then two holes later, on the par 4 No. 4 hole, Crosby holed out for an eagle 2. And Green sent another photo.
The weather is warming up and the golf is hot. The 54-hole $40,000 championship continues through Wednesday at Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville, Mich.
Jessica Welch of Georgia, the defending champion, was the leader through the first round of the championship.
Green-Roebuck was the leader of the Senior Division. She’s next. Perhaps a double-eagle?

Crystal Mountain

SHE’S BACK

GEORGIA’S JESSICA WELCH LEADS MICHIGAN PGA WOMEN’S OPEN ONCE AGAIN AT CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN

Crystal Mountain
THOMPSONVILLE – Jessica Welch is back and back in front.
The defending champion and LPGA Epson Tour player from Thomasville, Ga., shot a 3-under 69... on the Mountain Ridge Course at Crystal Mountain Monday to lead through the first round of the 32nd Michigan PGA Women’s Open Championship presented by Coca-Cola.
It wasn’t as eye-popping as the 63 she opened with last year in going wire-to-wire to win, but it was efficient on a day that featured oppressive 90-degree temperatures and some gusting winds.
“The wind was whipping,” the 31-year-old Welch said. “You learn to appreciate par on days like today. Get it to the green, make par and move on.”
Amateur Olivia Stoll of Haslett, a Grand Valley State University golfer, was the only other player under par with a 71 to stand second. She was 4-under at one point in her round but had bogey troubles over the last few holes.
Julia Stevenson of Highland, an assistant golf professional at Birmingham Country Club, Illinois State University golfer Elise Fennell of Caledonia and University of Wisconsin golfer Kate Brody of Grand Blanc each shot 72.
And the trio of Lauren Timpf of Macomb, a Purdue University golfer, Grace Slocum, a Traverse City high school golfer, and Brook Herbstreit of Fenton, a Saginaw Valley State University golfer, each shot 73.
The 54-hole $40,000 tournament continues through Wednesday with the field that represents five countries and seven U.S. states.
Welch is likely to be in or near the lead. Before winning a year ago, she had two consecutive second place finishes on her visits to Crystal Mountain. She stays with Steve and Pam Perry and calls it her getaway from the Epson Tour in a place she loves and with people who treat her great. Once again, she made the Sunday night trip from the Epson Tour’s Island Resort Classic in Harris to play in the Michigan Open.
“I feel at home here,” she said. “I’ve been staying with Steve and Pam since 2021, and I look forward to coming here every year. It relaxes me and I play well.”
She said she was pleased with her Monday round that included six birdies and three bogeys.
“I made plenty of birdies but had trouble on the par 3s with the wind,” she said. “It was more wind direction that length and I ended up in some bad spots and just had to do the best I could from there.”
Stoll, the daughter of Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll, the Michigan State University women’s golf coach, felt like she played well through the day. She had five birdies in her first 13 holes.
“I missed a short putt at 14, then hit a bad drive at 15 and hit another bad drive at 16,” she said.
In the second-year Senior Division, defending senior champion Suzy Green-Roebuck of Ann Arbor opened with a 70, and Elaine Crosby of Jackson shot 72 to stand second. Both are former LPGA players. Green has won the Michigan Women’s Open three times, and Crosby has won it twice.
In the tournament inside the tournament, the Michigan Women’s PGA Professional Championship, teaching pro Kelly Kuhlman of Rochester led with an 83. That tournament will conclude after 36 holes.
After the round Monday Crystal Mountain held a party for the golfers as a celebration of women’s golf. It included a special appearance by World Golf Hall of Fame members, Meg Mallon and Beth Daniel, who summer in Michigan.

ABOUT CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN: Established in 1956, Crystal Mountain is a family-owned, four-season resort destination located 28 miles southwest of Traverse City and a short drive from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The 1,500-acre resort features lodging, dining, downhill and cross-country skiing, two championship golf courses, shopping, award-winning Crystal Spa, Michigan’s only alpine slide, Peak Fitness, the Park at Water’s Edge, Michigan Legacy Art Park, weddings, a conference center, and real estate options.

SPONSORS: The tournament’s presenting sponsor is Coca-Cola, a long-time partner of Crystal Mountain. Visit Michigan PGA Women's Open Tournament | Crystal Mountain Michigan to see the sponsor support of the championship.

PRACTICE DAY Crystal Mountain

MICHIGAN PGA WOMEN’S OPEN STARTS MONDAY AT CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN

THOMPSONVILLE – The 32nd Michigan PGA Women’s Open Championship presented by Coca-Cola is on tap, Monday through Wednesday, June 23-25, at Crystal Mountain.
Sunday was practice... day and things are warming up, including the weather.
This year will mark the 23rd consecutive year at Crystal Mountain for the championship, and for the second year will include a Senior Championship division and competition for players over the age of 50. The Michigan Section PGA also holds its Michigan Women’s PGA Professional Championship for section professionals in conjunction with the Open.
The field will once again include touring professionals from across the country like Welch, as well as some international players and top amateur golfers from the state and elsewhere. The championship is played on the signature course at the resort, Mountain Ridge, and the professionals play for a $40,000 purse.
In addition to LPGA Epson Tour player Jessica Welch of Georgia defending, Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member Suzy Green-Roebuck of Ann Arbor will defend her Senior Division title. Roebuck is a three-time overall champion with titles won in 1994, 1999 and 2016.
Also playing is the state’s most decorated amateur player, Hall of Famer Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll, the head women’s golf coach at Michigan State University. Her daughter Olivia, who plays for Grand Valley State University, is among the many collegiate amateur golfers who are entered. Former LPGA standout Elaine Crosby of Jackson is playing in the Senior Division. Crosby won back-to-back overall titles in 2001-02.
Noted Michigan architect Bill Newcomb designed the Mountain Ridge course. It features some dramatic elevation changes, natural sand areas, and holes cut through towering tunnels of trees.

ABOUT CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN: Established in 1956, Crystal Mountain is a family-owned, four-season resort destination located 28 miles southwest of Traverse City and a short drive from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The 1,500-acre resort features lodging, dining, downhill and cross-country skiing, two championship golf courses, shopping, award-winning Crystal Spa, Michigan’s only alpine slide, Peak Fitness, the Park at Water’s Edge, Michigan Legacy Art Park, weddings, a conference center, and real estate options.

SPONSORS: The tournament’s presenting sponsor is Coca-Cola, a long-time partner of Crystal Mountain. Visit Michigan PGA Women's Open Tournament | Crystal Mountain Michigan to see the sponsor support of the championship.