Image Credit: Isaiah Bell/ Epson Tour
Prattville, Ala. — On a sticky Alabama Sunday, the Guardian Championship delivered every ounce of drama the Epson Tour could ask for. Two players, separated by six years in age and opposite ends of their careers, stood toe-to-toe in a playoff that stretched five tense holes across the Senator Course at the RTJ Golf Trail. In the end, it was 23-year-old rookie Melanie Green who survived, sinking a three-foot putt on the par-5 10th to capture her second professional victory of 2025.
A Duel of Youth and Nerves
Green and 17-year-old amateur Gianna Clemente had both closed regulation at 13-under par, each signing for final-round 68s. Clemente nearly ended it in style, watching a 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th skim past the hole. That miss sent them back to the tee in a sudden-death playoff that quickly became a test of patience and nerve.
Both players bogeyed the opening two trips down the par-4 18th. They steadied with pars at the par-5 10th, then halved again at 18. Finally, on the fifth playoff hole, Green found herself off the cart path and scrambling. Yet, in “Melanie fashion,” as she put it, she scraped out a gritty par to seal the win.
“I was really nervous,” Green admitted. “But Shane [her caddie] did a really good job of keeping me calm, and I did a lot of praying, that’s for sure.”
Green’s Rise to No. 1
With the victory, Green vaulted back to No. 1 in the Race for the Card, ensuring her LPGA Tour promotion is all but secured. She now joins Gina Kim, Briana Chacón, Riley Smyth, and Yana Wilson as the only players with multiple wins this season.
Her consistency has been remarkable: two wins, nine top-10s, and just two bogeys across 54 holes this week. For a rookie from the University of South Florida, the leap from college to professional golf has been seamless.
“I’ve learned that I can compete out here,” Green said. “If I do my job, things are going to be pretty good. It’s just about keeping with the process.”
Fierro’s Firepower
While Green and Clemente headlined, Isabella Fierro produced perhaps the most electric golf of the day. Starting well back, the Mexican fired a 7-under 65 featuring eight birdies, including a blistering run of six in a row from holes 7 through 12.
“I knew eventually the putts would fall,” Fierro said. “I just stuck to the game plan. Playing early suited me; I’m a morning person, and I just tried to finish strong.”
The performance vaulted her into a tie for third at 11-under alongside Hailee Cooper, and it may prove pivotal in her push to retain LPGA status.
Cooper’s Steady March
For Hailee Cooper, another top finish continued her season of quiet consistency. She closed with a 2-under 70 for T3, her eighth top-10 of 2025.
“I haven’t won, and that’s kind of upsetting, but I feel like I’m getting better every week,” Cooper said. “I struggled with putting earlier, but I worked hard on it, and it showed this week. Hopefully in these last two events I can break through.”
Sitting inside the top 10 in the Race for the Card, she knows the margins are razor thin: “I figured the only way I’m going to move is if I win. So that’s what’s in my brain.”
Clemente Shines Despite the Loss
Even in defeat, Gianna Clemente’s week resonated. The Ohio teenager, playing on a sponsor’s invite, strung together back-to-back bogey-free rounds and never blinked under the pressure of professional competition.
Already a decorated amateur — 2024 AJGA Rolex Player of the Year, top finishes at Mizuho and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur — Clemente proved again she’s no ordinary 17-year-old. Her solo second confirms what many believe: her time in the winner’s circle is coming soon.
Final Leaderboard (Top 5)
| Position | Player | Score | Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melanie Green | -13 | 66-69-68 (won in playoff) |
| 2 | Gianna Clemente (a) | -13 | 68-67-68 |
| T3 | Isabella Fierro | -11 | 70-70-65 |
| T3 | Hailee Cooper | -11 | 68-67-70 |
| T5 | Kaitlyn Papp Budde | -10 | 67-67-72 |
| T5 | Yana Wilson | -10 | 64-69-73 |
What It Means
The Guardian Championship showcased the very essence of the Epson Tour: veterans chasing breakthrough wins, rookies proving they belong, and teenagers foreshadowing the future.
For Green, it was affirmation that her rookie success is no fluke. For Clemente, it was another chapter in an already extraordinary amateur career. For Fierro and Cooper, it was fuel for their season-long battles to rise into the LPGA ranks.
And for the fans in Prattville, it was a Sunday that embodied the chaos, courage, and character of professional golf’s proving ground.
Disclaimer: This article is an independent journalistic piece for Fairway Queens and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Epson Tour. All statistical information, quotes, and press materials are sourced from official Epson Tour communications and accredited media partners.
