Following a three-week break, and coming off the heels of the most exciting week in the sport following the U.S. Women’s Open, the ladies of the Epson Tour are heading to the Great Lakes State for the 2026 FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship.
A hotspot for women’s golf this week, Michigan will see the women on the LPGA Tour teeing off in Midland while those in the Race for the Card will vie for a victory two hours away in the palm of the mitten at The Medalist Golf Club in Marshall. While Amari Avery stands well atop the leaderboard at 955 points — almost 200 points ahead of second place – a win to kick off the Michigan swing could turn the tides, especially for some of the state’s own.
In addition to the defending champion Samantha Wagner, there are a few other ladies well-positioned to make a splash in the Great Lakes State.
From Canyons to the Creek: Kaleiya Romero
Many avid women’s golf fans had their eyes peeled for a certain Romero at Riviera Country Club last week, but were welcomed with not one K. Romero, but two. While Kiara Romero finished at the U.S. Women’s Open as the low amateur (and T6), her older sister Kaleiya had her own story to tell.
With her brother on the bag last week, Kaleiya comes into the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship at No. 15 on the Race for the Card Points List, and either a win or another stellar performance at The Medalist could put the eldest Romero on the heels of Amari Avery.
Up ‘NEXT’: Sweden’s Matilda Cederholm
In a partnership with NEXT Golf Tour powered by Trackman, one female golfer is granted an exemption into the three events of the 2026 Epson Tour Michigan Swing. This year, that opportunity was granted to former University of Indianapolis golfer Matilda Cederholm. The Swede finished second in the NEXT World Series earlier this year, which was competed in virtually at Adare Manor in Ireland via Trackman simulators.
Cederholm finished her collegiate career at UIndy in 2024 after playing for three years at Texas State. Upon graduation, she joined the Epson Tour; through her exemption at FireKeepers and the other Michigan events this summer, she is one step closer to joining the hallowed halls of Swedes in professional women’s golf.
Bringing It Back to Breslin or the Big House: Local Alum in the Field
Of the 144 women in this week’s field, six hail from the two powerhouses in the state: Michigan and Michigan State. Repping the Spartans are Yurika Tanada, Valery Plata and Brooke Biermann, while Ashley Lau, Monet Chun and Hailey Borja are former Michigan Wolverines.
From Colombia, Plata is the highest ranked of these six in terms of Race for the Card standings, at No. 58. She’s also the only one of these six to have a career victory on the Epson Tour (2024 Florida’s Natural Charity Classic). However, the 25-year-old is hoping the three-week break was in her favor, as she’s coming off the heels of two consecutive missed cuts.
Biermann, Plata’s former teammate just a few seasons ago, is hoping to solidify her first career victory since turning pro this year. Biermann is one of the 32 Epson Tour rookies in the field this week, including former collegiate rivals like Northwestern’s Lauren Nguyen. Biermann’s previous professional experience – she was the sponsor invite at the 2023 Meijer LPGA Classic up the road in Grand Rapids – could propel her higher up the leaderboard and the points list, where she currently stands at No. 80.
