Ssu-Chia Cheng poses with Hannahville Indian Community Tribal Chairperson Kenneth Meshigaud following her victory at the Epson Tour Island Resort Championship Sunday at the Sweetgrass Golf Course in Harris. (Courtesy of Epson Tour)

By TODD ROSE

Escanaba Daily Press

HARRIS — Ssu-Chia Cheng carded a three-round score of 199 — tying the Epson Tour record at Sweetgrass set in 2021 by Morgane Metraux — to win the Island Resort Championship Sunday afternoon in Harris.

Cheng (Taiwan) concluded the event 17-under-par, six strokes ahead of second-place Jiwon Jeon (205) of South Korea.

Haylee Harford (USA), Michaela Finn (Sweden), Clariss Guce (Philippines) and Emilee Hoffman (USA) all ended their tournament at 10-under in a four-way tie for third.

Cheng entered the day 12-under-par and as the leading golfer and held on through windy conditions to take the win.

“It definitely means a lot to me,” said Cheng. “It’s a tough day for us to be out here and the wind is very strong and it was challenging but I was really happy to be able to play against the wind and have the score today. I’m really happy.”

Round three began with a strong start for Cheng as she scored an eagle on Sweetgrass’ par-4 hole one.

Though she ended one over the four-stroke par on the second hole for a bogey, Cheng shot pars on holes three through eight before ending her time on the front nine with a birdie on the ninth hole.

Cheng’s putt and follow-through were smooth as the ball rolled toward the hole where it stopped, dangling on the edge for what must have seemed like an eternity for Cheng, before toppling in.

The relief for Cheng was evident as she arched back for a moment before pumping her fist in celebration.

While a bogey on hole 13 set Cheng back somewhat — tightening the gap between her and the field — she hit back-to-back birdies on 15 and 16, par on 17 and finished with another birdie on 18 to rebound and retain the top spot.

“I didn’t really think about it too much,” Cheng commented. “I was just really trying to focus on my game. I knew the scoreboard was there because I made a bogey a couple holes before that, and I was really trying to get myself back. So, I had a couple good shots there.”

Awaiting Cheng after her final, tournament-clinching putt was a slew of friends who doused her in water.

“I was trying to not look to them because I knew they had water for me,” Cheng chuckled. “So, I was just trying to focus on my putt and just be as good as I can and just do the job and have a good putt.”

The tournament win is the second on the Epson Tour for Cheng. Her first came at the 2019 FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship in Battle Creek.

Cheng commented that lessons learned in the last several years helped her succeed at Sweetgrass in her third appearance in the Island Resort Championship.

“I think my experience kind of helped me out today,” she said. “When it’s windy out here, you don’t want to play against the wind. So, I was in a really good rhythm and good mental condition.”

The victory will provide Cheng a projected jump from 92nd to 8th in the 2022 Epson Tour standings — it also provides a shot of confidence.

“It definitely helps a lot on the ranking-wise and definitely confidence-wise,” she said. “I feel really mentally strong, and that’s a big part for my goal for these couple of years. I’ve been trying to really work on my mental (game). I guess the hard work pays out.”

Cheng becomes the 11th unique winner in 11 editions of the Island Resort Championship since its inception in 2011. There was no event in 2020 due to COVID-19.

The second-place result for Jiwon Jeon is the first top-ten finish in her professional career.

“Being in second place is a really good accomplishment for me,” said Jeon in a post-tournament interview. “I wasn’t really expecting the best this week, but I tried my best to keep myself on top near the lead. What I did today and this week, I was very, very proud, and I want to pat myself on the back.”

With only two bogeys on the day, one on the front and one on the back, Jeon shot par on 12 of the 18 holes with birdies on nine, 11, 14 and 18.

“Something clicked, and I started to play well on the back nine,” she said. “Overall, I’m very happy with what I had today, and I’m very proud of myself for staying present and being patient.”

Lucy Li (USA) is projected to hold on to her top spot in the overall rankings on the 2022 Epson Tour as she ended this weekend’s tournament in a tie for seventh with Sofia Garcia (Paraguay). They both had 207 (9-under).

Kaitlin Milligan (USA) finished behind the pair in ninth at 208, ahead of an eight-way tie for 10th.

Top golfers

Ssu-Chia Cheng (Taiwan) — 68, 64, 67: 199

Jiwon Jeon (South Korea) — 67, 68, 70: 205

Haylee Harford (USA) — 69, 71, 66: 206

Michaela Finn (Sweden) — 68, 69, 69: 206

Clariss Guce (Philippines) — 71, 64, 71: 206

Emilee Hoffman (USA) — 67, 68, 71: 206

Lucy Li (USA) — 70, 66, 71: 207

Sofia Garcia (Paraguay) — 68, 68, 71: 207

Kaitlin Milligan (USA) — 69, 67, 72: 208

Full results and more can be found at www.epsontour.com