Image Credit: Isaiah Bell/Epson Tour
Prattville, Alabama — Saturday at the Guardian Championship was less about separation and more about survival. On the demanding Senator Course at Capitol Hill, contenders leaned on patience, precision, and—at times—pure grit to keep themselves in position for Sunday. By the end of Round 2, Yana Wilson still stood tall, but a wave of hungry challengers—rookies, veterans, and amateurs alike—closed in with the season’s stakes at their peak.
Yana Wilson: Composure Beyond Her Years
At just 19, Wilson looks every bit the poised veteran. She has only one bogey all week, and her formula is simple: keep it in play and let the putter settle the nerves.
“Just hitting fairways and greens out here is super important to me, and it’s definitely shown,” Wilson said. “I feel like I’ve hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens, and just happened to make a lot of good lag putts if I didn’t hit my iron shot so well.”
She admitted the round wasn’t flashy, but it didn’t need to be. “I was just trying to have fun and repeat what I did yesterday without the expectation of shooting super low,” she explained.
With back-to-back wins in sight, Wilson knows what’s on the line. “It’d be pretty cool,” she said when asked about joining Gina Kim as the only three-time winners this season. “She’s kind of been like a role model out here. I’m really just trying to follow in her footsteps.”
Melanie Green: Bogey-Free Calm
Melanie Green has been steady all week, and her play has been defined by control. “Avoiding bad spots has just been the key,” she said, flashing the matter-of-fact smile of someone who’s been in rhythm.
She already has her LPGA card locked up, but that hasn’t dulled her drive. “I think I definitely have to go to a new level in everything,” she reflected. “Still not let this victory deter me from working really hard to be able to compete at the next level.”
Green enters Sunday with the freedom of a secured future but the fire of someone who wants to win again. “Just trying to stay patient, and one shot at a time,” she said. “At the end of the day, it’s still golf.”
Kaitlyn Papp Budde: Iron Play and Opportunity
Kaitlyn Papp Budde’s bogey-free second round was powered by crisp iron shots and confidence on the greens. “I felt like I had a lot of looks for birdie out there, and that freed me up to roll in some putts and have some easy pars along the way.”
Her journey as a pro has been uneven, but this week she looks ready to crest a hill. “My career has been very up and down since I’ve turned pro,” she admitted. “I’ve played a lot of good golf this year. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll continue my great play this week and just have a fun day out there.”
Gianna Clemente: Youthful Fire
At just 17, amateur Gianna Clemente is proving she belongs. “I think just putting,” she said of her bogey-free round. “Normally, not my strong suit… but I just really got the putts rolling.”
Clemente has her father on the bag, keeping her grounded. “He just keeps me really grounded and helps me stay in the moment and not look too far ahead.”
A win might be a stretch, but she isn’t shying away from the possibility. “That would be awesome,” she said. “Obviously there’s still a lot of work to do and some really good players at the top, but I’m glad I’ve given myself a chance this far.”
Hailee Cooper: Quietly Climbing
Hailee Cooper doesn’t always make the biggest headlines, but her second-round 67 has her right in the hunt at –9. With clean ball striking and a calm back nine, she’s given herself a real chance to make noise on Sunday.
Leaderboard – After Round 2, Guardian Championship
| Pos | Player | To Par | R1 | R2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yana Wilson | –11 | 64 | 69 | 133 |
| 2 | Kaitlyn Papp Budde | –10 | 67 | 67 | 134 |
| T3 | Hailee Cooper | –9 | 68 | 67 | 135 |
| T3 | Gianna Clemente (a) | –9 | 68 | 67 | 135 |
| T3 | Melanie Green | –9 | 66 | 69 | 135 |
Sunday Awaits
The storyline is rich: a teenager seeking back-to-back Epson wins, a proven rookie refusing to make mistakes, veterans like Papp Budde leaning on experience, and rising amateurs like Clemente proving they’re unafraid of the moment.
As Wilson put it, she’s learned that her “mistakes kind of fuel the fire and actually get me to play better.” Tomorrow, that grit will be tested.
Disclaimer: This article is an independent sports commentary and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Epson Tour, Guardian Championship, or RTJ Golf Trail. All quotes are sourced from official press conference transcripts.
