- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,153,931
- Reaction score
- 59
MARSHALL - Local fans were eager for the return of professional golf to the area. But what a lot of fans were more interested about, was how were the pros going to handle a different course in The Medalist after playing for a dozen years at the Battle Creek Country Club.
That was what the first round was all about as the 13th annual FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship began at The Medalist in Marshall on Friday, June 12.
Over 140 top-tier women professional golfers began competing for a $200,000 purse in the first round on Monday at The Medalist, which is different kind of golf course than what the group has been used to when they have come to Battle Creek in prior years.
MORE:FireKeepers golf event begins new era in Marshall at The Medalist
"The Medalist is a very difficult golf course. Tight. Different than a lot of course these women play on. So everybody was kinda excited to see what the scores were going to be," said Lowell Weaver, managing partner of The Medalist, "All of my members, and myself, were anxious to see how they would do out here. We were eager to see how their scores compare to the past when they played in Battle Creek."
The FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship is part of the Epson Tour - Road to the LPGA. The winner of the event earns her LPGA card and gets to join the LPGA Tour.
"I tell everybody, these aren't just some of the best women golfers in the world, these are some of the best golfers in the world," said Ray Vorraber, co-Director of the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship. "One of my favorite things is to watch them one the range. You never hear a mishit. It's sweet spot after sweet spot.
"I couldn't wait until we got to today to see them play. It's really a wild card, can't say who is a favorite and who's not. I would say whoever wins will be a really straight ball striker because of the way the course is."
Xiaowen Yin holds the lead in the clubhouse after the first round after firing an impressive 6-under, 66. Yin started the round off strong with a birdie on the par-4 1st. The 2022 Gaelle Truet Rookie of the Year continued to display her incredible golf game, after a bogey on No. 10, Yin drained four more birdies on the back nine to end the day sitting atop the leaderboard.
Yin won the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship in 2022.
Epson Tour veteran Jillian Hollis was second on the leaderboard after sinking seven birdies and two bogeys for a 5-under 67. Epson Tour sophomore Elina Sinz also had a 5-under 67. Sinz is theonly player atop the leaderboard who finished the day bogey-free, highlighted by three consecutive birdies on holes 13 through 15.
The pack tightened quickly after that, with seven golfers at 4-under, sitting in a tie for fourth, setting up an intense battle heading into day two.
Contact Bill Broderick at [email protected]. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: First-round results of the 2026 FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship
Continue reading...
That was what the first round was all about as the 13th annual FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship began at The Medalist in Marshall on Friday, June 12.
Over 140 top-tier women professional golfers began competing for a $200,000 purse in the first round on Monday at The Medalist, which is different kind of golf course than what the group has been used to when they have come to Battle Creek in prior years.
MORE:FireKeepers golf event begins new era in Marshall at The Medalist
"The Medalist is a very difficult golf course. Tight. Different than a lot of course these women play on. So everybody was kinda excited to see what the scores were going to be," said Lowell Weaver, managing partner of The Medalist, "All of my members, and myself, were anxious to see how they would do out here. We were eager to see how their scores compare to the past when they played in Battle Creek."
The FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship is part of the Epson Tour - Road to the LPGA. The winner of the event earns her LPGA card and gets to join the LPGA Tour.
"I tell everybody, these aren't just some of the best women golfers in the world, these are some of the best golfers in the world," said Ray Vorraber, co-Director of the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship. "One of my favorite things is to watch them one the range. You never hear a mishit. It's sweet spot after sweet spot.
"I couldn't wait until we got to today to see them play. It's really a wild card, can't say who is a favorite and who's not. I would say whoever wins will be a really straight ball striker because of the way the course is."
You must be registered for see images attach
First Day Leaders
Xiaowen Yin holds the lead in the clubhouse after the first round after firing an impressive 6-under, 66. Yin started the round off strong with a birdie on the par-4 1st. The 2022 Gaelle Truet Rookie of the Year continued to display her incredible golf game, after a bogey on No. 10, Yin drained four more birdies on the back nine to end the day sitting atop the leaderboard.
Yin won the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship in 2022.
Epson Tour veteran Jillian Hollis was second on the leaderboard after sinking seven birdies and two bogeys for a 5-under 67. Epson Tour sophomore Elina Sinz also had a 5-under 67. Sinz is theonly player atop the leaderboard who finished the day bogey-free, highlighted by three consecutive birdies on holes 13 through 15.
The pack tightened quickly after that, with seven golfers at 4-under, sitting in a tie for fourth, setting up an intense battle heading into day two.
Contact Bill Broderick at [email protected]. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: First-round results of the 2026 FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship
Continue reading...
