Melanie Green, the leader in The Race for the Card standings on the Epson Tour, won her second tournament of the year with a playoff victory over amateur Gianna Clemente at the Guardian Championship in Alabama.
Green was generally consistent throughout the week, putting up some strong ball striking numbers particularly with her accuracy. She came into the final round two strokes back of Yana Wilson, but closed that gap with four front nine birdies. With two more birdies on the back nine, she looked to be in good shape to win, if not for a bogey on the final hole.
That bogey sent her into a playoff with amateur Gianna Clemente, the 2024 AJGA Player of the Year. The 17-year-old also finished in the top five of the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Clemente had three rounds of 68 or better for the week.
This wasn’t a quick playoff, as both players bogeyed the first two non regulation holes, before pars on the next two. Finally on the fifth playoff hole, Green won with a par on the par 5 10.
In 17 starts this is the fifth time Green has finished in the top two, with three runner-up finishes and two wins. With the success of the 2025 rookie class, Green should be in great form to compete right away on the LPGA Tour.
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