Tour Rookie Laney Frye Leads; BOYNE Golf’s Sarah White Shoots 72
By Greg Johnson- Special to www.skyviewsports.net
HARBOR SPRINGS – Sarah White of Grand Rapids, BOYNE Golf’s brand ambassador on the LPGA Epson Tour, said it’s an honor and not added pressure representing this week’s tournament host.
“I mean everyone from Boyne has come up to me to tell me they’re just rooting for me,” she said after shooting an even-par 72 in the chilly rain on The Heather Course Friday in the first round of the Great Lakes Championship at The Highlands presented by Johnnie Walker.
“I know they want the best for me, so I wouldn’t say it adds any pressure. I always want to play well. I always want to commit to every shot. As long as I do that, I think they’re all going to be pretty happy.”
White’s opening 72 put her in a tie for 24th, and in great position to get past the 36-hole cut to the low 60 scorers and ties after Saturday’s second round. A field of 144 started Friday in the 54-hole championship that has a purse of $250,000.
Laney Frye, a tour rookie from Kentucky, had the first-round lead after a 6-under 66.
Clariss Guce of the Philippines, who has three career Epson Tour wins, was next with a 67.
Former Michigan State University golfer Valery Plata, a winner on the Epson Tour last year, shot 68 and was tied for third with Gina Kim of North Carolina, who is a three-time winner on the circuit.
Plata, 24, qualified for the LPGA Tour in 2023 but didn’t keep her status. The former Big Ten Player of the Year was the 2021 Women’s Amateur Latin America winner.
White was paired with last week’s winner in Battle Creek at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship, Samantha Wagner of Windermere, Fla. They played through rain the entire round, and White said she felt like she played well despite the weather.
“A few putts just didn’t drop,” she said. “I had a six-footer and a five-footer that just lipped out really hard, and I missed another six-footer on (Hole No. 1). I was 2-over for a while, but I fought back to even. I feel good about that. With all the rain and moisture on the greens, I think it made putting tougher.”
White thought the par 3 holes were set up at long yardages, but she had her highlights on those holes with three birdies among the four.
“The long par 3s worked in my favor I guess,” she said. “I almost made a hole-in-one on (hole No. 4) today. It was playing 176 (yards) with a back pin and I hit 6-iron to two feet. That was a good birdie.”
After playing in the pro-am events and having a first round under her belt, White said she is proud to be affiliated with BOYNE Golf.
“The BOYNE brand in general is just awesome because they are not just growing the sport of women’s professional golf, they grow junior golf with having the (American Junior Golf Association) tournaments here and all the other tournaments they host.
“I love wearing their logos on my sleeves. I’m happy to be part of the team. I’m out there fighting to play well and hopefully I make them proud.”
Frye, a former University of Kentucky golfer, is a fan of The Heather course and The Highlands. She was 4-under on the front nine and had six birdies for the day against one bogey.
“It’s beautiful out here,” she said. “I think just being able to look around and take in the scenery is great for me to play good golf. The conditions, yeah, it’s cold but I’ve kind of learned to dress properly and not let it get the best of me. I think the course is in great shape. The greens are rolling so well, so it’s just a fun day.”
Plata said before she teed off that she was happy to be back in Michigan, and after her opening 68 said she noticed the Spartans in the gallery.
“There are a lot of Spartans out here and it’s really great,” she said. “It feels like a second home, and it feels even better to play well here.”
The winner Sunday will take home $37,500 and a shot at another $20,000 in bonus money is available because The Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Epson Tour created the Pure Michigan Cup.
The Pure Michigan Cup money will be distributed to the top three points earners at the conclusion of the Michigan stretch of tournaments, which includes last week’s FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship in Battle Creek, this week’s Great Lakes Championship at The Highlands and next week’s Island Resort Championship in Harris. To be eligible the players must have played in each of the three tournaments. Points are awarded based on finish positions, and the top point earner will get $10,000. Second place gets a bonus of $6,000 and third place $4,000.
Plata is not the only golfer with university ties to Michigan. Yurika Tanida, a former Spartan and former GAM Women’s Player of the Year while in college, and current Spartan standout, Brooke Biermann, are in the field. Biermann is playing via a sponsor’s exemption and shot 77. Tanida shot 74.
Three former Wolverines are here, too. Ashley Lau, who shot 74, Monet Chun, who shot 73, and Hailey Borja, who shot 78.
