Island Resort Championship, Ten Years and Counting
The 2022 tournament in June at Sweetgrass will be the 11th for the longest running women’s pro tour event in Michigan
By Tom Lang
The Island Resort Championship – June 24-26 – has become such a staple on the EPSON Tour – formerly the Symetra Tour – that several years ago the winners started becoming automatically exempt into the Evian Championship, the LPGA Tour’s major in France.
That creates some tall expectations for a host tournament, but the U.P. resort – which earned 2022 National Golf Course of the Year – has lived up to the reputation on several levels. If not for Covid-19 cancelling the 2020 championship, this year would be the 12th consecutive women’s pro event, played near Escanaba.
In 2019, Michigan native Daniela Iacobelli won the tournament at 11-under par. The defending champion (2021) is Morgane Metraux, a Switzerland citizen who played collegiately at Florida State.
It’s truly a melting pot for champions from around the world, with Americans winning the first four times beginning in 2011.
Liz Nagel is a native of DeWitt, Michigan. She previously played in the Island Resort Championship but has had her LPGA Tour card for several years now – which is the entire point of the EPSON feeder tour.
“The players love it (at Sweetgrass) because it’s such a hidden gem of a golf course, and if you haven’t been there, it’s the most unexpected place,” she said recently. “Most out-of-state golfers write off Michigan and especially the U.P., but once players get up there, they fall in love with the crisp air and the plush grass.
“I’ve had over a dozen people tell me it’s their favorite course we play all year and it’s been a great staple on the Epson Tour schedule – with an even better sponsor.”
The Escanaba region has welcomed the golfers and the tournament with open arms to be cliché, but not only does the golf course shine, it is one of the top charity-dollar-raising tournaments on the feeder tour. The tournament is double- and triple-circled on the resident’s summer calendars. And it’s all for a good cause.
“Without the support of this tournament we wouldn’t be able to provide the type of direct financial assistance for them to take part in things like swimming lessons, childcare, summer day camps, youth sports and just family memberships in general,” Northern Lights YMCA Associate Executive Director, Caron Salo, said about being the charitable benefactor.
“It helps us tackle some of our communities most pressing needs, like chronic disease. With the proceeds we can conduct chronic disease prevention and management for things like diabetes and a class like “Matter of Balance” that we offer at no charge to the community, as well as many community events. It’s tremendous to have this partnership with the Epson event and Sweetgrass.”
More information can be found here.
FireKeepers Casino Championship: July 29-31
Battle Creek Country Club on the edge of beautiful Goguac Lake has been the host since day one of the 9th annual FireKeepers Casino and Hotel Championship. It’s the second event of three on the Epson Tour that offers a special Potawatomi Cup – in partnership with the Island Resort Championship and the Four Winds Invitational in South Bend.
FireKeepers will take place the week before the French Lick Charity Championship, which features the largest purse in Epson Tour history of $335,000 which should make for a strong field in the Cereal City looking for a warm up.
Admission tickets are by donation. Any proceeds generated by the tournament will go to the South Michigan Food Bank. VOLUNTEERS are always needed and can apply here: http://events.trustevent.com/index.cfm?eid=3979
