Green captures her second Epson Tour tourney title with a dramatic playoff win

Contributed Photos – Holding the trophy, Melanie Green celebrates capturing the Guardian Championship Tournament title.  At right, the Epson Tour salutes Green’s victory.

Continuing a sensational debut season, Medina’s Melanie Green captured her second Epson Tour tournament championship in dramatic fashion today at the Guardian Championship at Prattsville, Alabama.

Green outdueled Gianna Clemente in what ended up as a five hole playoff to claim the championship.

The two golfers matched scores over the first four playoff holes. Then on the fifth hole Green claimed the title by making par as Clemente bogeyed.

The playoff was set up when Clemente had a birdie on 17 and Green a bogey on 18 leaving the two golfers deadlocked with identical rounds of 68 and identical tournament totals of 13 under par 203.

Green, who started the day at 9 under and tied for third two shots off the pace, upped her total to 12 under after the front nine. She had four birdies (on 4, 5, 8 and 9) and one bogey (on 6) during that stretch.

Keeping rolling on the back nine, she pulled into a tie for first at 13 under after a birdie on 12. She then took over sole possession of first place at 14 under with another birdie on 16.

However, the combination of Clemente’s birdie on 17 and Green’s bogey on 18 caused a tie for first place forcing a playoff.

Green, who also regained first place in the Epson Tour’s season long points race with the win, opened the tourney with a 6 under par round of 66 on Friday. She followed that up with a 3 under par 69 on Saturday to stay in the thick of the title chase.

Green’s first Epson Tour victory came at the Island Resort Championship in Michigan in June.