Results of Epson Tour FireKeepers Casino Hotel Golf Championship

BATTLE CREEK – Yana Wilson has had a taste of winning this season. Now, she wants more.

After winning her first Epson Tour event back in early May, Wilson is in good position to win twice this season as the leader after 36 holes at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship at the Battle Creek Country on Saturday, June 7.

Wilson shot a 5-under 67 to finish the second round in a tie for first at 8-under. Samantha Vodry posted a 2-under 70 to get to 8-under in the morning wave, giving Wilson a number to chase in the afternoon. Sitting two shots behind the pair is a group of six players all at 6-under, with 2023 Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic winner, Isabella Fierro, part of the group tied for third.

Wilson had one of the rounds of the day, posting the joint lowest score in the second round. The day started out shaky however, making a bogey on the first hole after an errant tee shot left. She bounced right back, holing out for eagle on the par-four 2nd to move to 1-under on the day. She added another birdie on the third hole before rattling off six straight pars heading into the turn. The back nine started out quick, with the 18-year-old rolling in three consecutive birdies on holes 10, 11, and 12. Then, six more pars followed, just like on the front nine to finish at 5-under on the day.

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“Obviously, didn’t get off to a great start. I snap hooked my first drive and I was like, ‘well crap’. But then, I happened to save bogey and then step up to the next tee, still kinda heated. I hit a really good drive down there. I had about 116 left and ended up pulling that out for eagle, and that kinda just turned everything around for the rest of the day,” explained Wilson. “Honestly, it is nice to play alongside girls like Gina Kim, who has already done it. She already has two wins, so that kind of inspired me to go out and get another one. But we’ll see how everything maps out tomorrow.”

The top 55 golfers and ties made the cut to play on Sunday. The cutline was even par.

Locally, Battle Creek’s Amiyah Gibson did not make the cut. The Lakeview high schooler entered the tournament as an amateur on a sponsor’s exemption. The FireKeepers event is part of the EPSON Tour – the official qualifying tour of the LPGA Tour.

The final round will begin tomorrow at 7:30 a.m., with the leaders set to tee off at 1:20 p.m.

Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick