The Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women’s Health Classic is the most anticipated event on the Tour’s schedule because it features the highest purse ($250,000) and the largest winner’s payout ($37,500) in Tour history. The winner of the event will definitely move into the top 10 and will likely move into the top 5.
Madelene Sagstrom – Sagstrom has undoubtedly distinguished herself as the top player on Tour four events into the year. She had her worst finish of the year this past Sunday, a tie for fifth! She won the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial two weeks ago and has finished inside the top five in all four events. I’ve heard several players and staff members heap praise on her swing and play. Sagstrom has already earned $56,214 and is $25,738 in front of second on the Volvik Race for the Card money list. She has played in the final group in three of the first four events so she has dealt with pressure and larger galleries. Sagstrom leads the Tour in scoring average (70.615) and is third in driving distance (274.462).Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong – Yes, her last name has 20 letters and might be a nightmare for a copy editor in Greenwood, but Santiwiwatthanaphong has been really good of late so don’t be surprised if she hoists the trophy. She ranks fourth on the early season Volvik Race for the Card money list. She missed the cut at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic, but then finished third in back-to-back events. On Sunday at the Guardian Retirement Championship, she closed with a 2-under 70 to climb the leaderboard. If you go back to the last event of 2015 (she won the Epson Tour Championship), Santiwiwatthanaphong has finished inside the top five in three of her last four starts.
Marissa Steen – The 2014 Epson Player of the Year has rebounded very nicely from a tough 2015. She has finished inside the top 16 in all four events with two top 10 finishes. She currently ranks 11th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list. Steen didn’t play in Greenwood last year, but she did finish T8 at the inaugural event so she knows the course and fared well. Steen has excelled in several statistical categories this year including scoring average (5th), driving accuracy (3rd) and greens in regulation (2nd). Pretty impressive numbers and you’ve got to believe that she’ll be dialed in for the Greenwood event knowing that a win will vault her into great position to earn a card again in 2016.
Catherine O’Donnell – The former UNC golfer has had probably the best start to any season of her career. She has finished in the top 25 of all four events with one top 15 results. O’Donnell had a respectable T25 finish in Greenwood last year after missing the cut at The Links at Stoney Point in year one. Ever since the Epson Tour Championship to end 2015, O’Donnell has been a top player on Tour. Remember that she lead the Tour Championship heading into the final day and finished T5. O’Donnell is also a really good putter. She ranks eighth on Tour in putting average (28.62).
Ani Gulugian – The 2nd year player finished 4th at the Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women’s Health Classic last year with rounds of 70-70-72-70 so she clearly showed a consistent level of play on the course. Gulugian has played a mixture of LPGA and Epson Tour this year. In her two Epson Tour starts, she has finished T49 and T23. She missed the cut in her lone LPGA start. She had a solid rookie campaign in 2015 and considering her strong finish in Greenwood, she is no doubt someone to watch.