Georgia’s Jessica Welch Leads Michigan PGA Women’s Open at Crystal Mountain Once Again
June 23, 2025
THOMPSONVILLE – Jessica Welch is back and back in front.
The defending champion and LPGA Epson Tour player from Thomasville, Ga., shot a 3-under 69 on the Mountain Ridge Course at Crystal Mountain to lead through the first round of the 32nd Michigan PGA Women’s Open Championship presented by Coca-Cola.
It wasn’t as eye-popping as the 63 she opened with last year in going wire-to-wire to win, but it was efficient on a day that featured oppressive 90-degree temperatures and some gusting winds.
“The wind was whipping,” the 31-year-old Welch said. “You learn to appreciate par on days like today. Get it to the green, make par and move on.”
Amateur Olivia Stoll of Haslett, a Grand Valley State University golfer, was the only other player under par with a 71 to stand second. She was 4-under at one point in her round but had bogey troubles over the last few holes.
Julia Stevenson of Highland, an assistant golf professional at Birmingham Country Club, Illinois State University golfer Elise Fennell of Caledonia and University of Wisconsin golfer Kate Brody of Grand Blanc each shot 72.
And the trio of Lauren Timpf of Macomb, a Purdue University golfer, Grace Slocum, a Traverse City high school golfer, and Brook Herbstreit of Fenton, a Saginaw Valley State University golfer, each shot 73.
The 54-hole $40,000 tournament continues through Wednesday with the field that represents five countries and seven U.S. states.
Welch is likely to be in or near the lead. Before winning a year ago, she had two consecutive second place finishes on her visits to Crystal Mountain. She stays with Steve and Pam Perry and calls it her getaway from the Epson Tour in a place she loves and with people who treat her great. Once again, she made the Sunday night trip from the Epson Tour’s Island Resort Classic in Harris to play in the Michigan Open.
“I feel at home here,” she said. “I’ve been staying with Steve and Pam since 2021, and I look forward to coming here every year. It relaxes me and I play well.”
She said she was pleased with her Monday round that included six birdies and three bogeys.
“I made plenty of birdies but had trouble on the par 3s with the wind,” she said. “It was more wind direction that length and I ended up in some bad spots and just had to do the best I could from there.”
Stoll, the daughter of Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll, the Michigan State University women’s golf coach who is also in the field, felt like she played well through the day. She had five birdies in her first 13 holes.
“I missed a short putt at 14, then hit a bad drive at 15 and hit another bad drive at 16,” she said.
In the second-year Senior Division, defending senior champion Suzy Green-Roebuck of Ann Arbor opened with a 70, and Elaine Crosby of Jackson shot 72 to stand second. Both are former LPGA players. Green has won the Michigan Women’s Open three times, and Crosby has won it twice.
In the tournament inside the tournament, the Michigan Women’s PGA Professional Championship, teaching pro Kelly Kuhlman of Rochester led with an 83. That tournament will conclude after 36 holes.
After the round Monday Crystal Mountain held a party for the golfers as a celebration of women’s golf. It included a special appearance by World Golf Hall of Fame members, Meg Mallon and Beth Daniel, who summer in Michigan.
ABOUT CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN: Established in 1956, Crystal Mountain is a family-owned, four-season resort destination located 28 miles southwest of Traverse City and a short drive from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The 1,500-acre resort features lodging, dining, downhill and cross-country skiing, two championship golf courses, shopping, award-winning Crystal Spa, Michigan’s only alpine slide, Peak Fitness, the Park at Water’s Edge, Michigan Legacy Art Park, weddings, a conference center, and real estate options.
SPONSORS: The tournament’s presenting sponsor is Coca-Cola, a long-time partner of Crystal Mountain. Visit Michigan PGA Women's Open Tournament to see the sponsor support of the championship.
CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN CONTACT: Brittney Primeau, Director of Communications, 231-378-2091, brittneyprimeau@crystalmountain.com
SCORING: Find it at www.michiganpga.com by clicking on Tournaments, then Section Events and the Women’s Open will be at the top of the list.
MEDIA CONTACT: Greg Johnson at 616-560-8995 or gregeeee24@gmail.com