Great Lakes Championship at The Highlands Second Round Notes

via Epson Tour

RECAP 

Laney Frye Maintains Lead Through Second Round of the Great Lakes Championship

Despite day-long shifts in the leaderboard, one player remains on top at the Great Lakes  Championship at the Highlands presented by Johnnie Walker. Epson Tour rookie Laney Frye  held onto her lead thanks to a 2-under second round.  

Saturday’s Moving Day consisted of five birdies and three bogeys for the Kentucky native,  pushing her tournament total to 8-under. After 36 holes of competition, she holds just a  one-shot lead over the rest of the field.  

“I feel like I left so many out there,” said Frye. “So I’m excited for tomorrow and a chance to  go make some more.”  

For the first time in her Epson Tour career, Frye holds a 36-hole lead, and the 22-year-old is  hopeful to take home her first Epson Tour trophy on Sunday. While it’s been on her mind for 

the last 48 hours, the thought of winning will take some time to really sink in. Regardless of  the outcome, Frye is looking to do her best and what feels right in the moment.  

“I’ll probably do some processing tonight and try and come out here and do my best,” said  Frye. “But I know I’m where I’m supposed to be, and whatever happens, it’s all meant to  work out exactly as it does.”  

Making up the final pairing with Frye is Epson Tour winner Isi Gabsa. The German carded a  4-under 68 on Moving Day, moving up just a few spots from T5 to solo second place.  Gabsa’s round was bogey-free, rolling in three birdies on her front nine, the course’s back.  

“Everything was very, very consistent,” said Gabsa. “I had a lot of birdie chances on the  front nine and just kept on going and going and hit it good, putted it good.”  

The 30-year-old is looking to pick up her second career Epson Tour win on Sunday, just one  week after her birthday, and with her mom on the bag. After a 30th birthday celebration in  Italy, consisting of croissants and espressos, Gabsa could keep the celebrations rolling  with a trophy and a $37,500 winner’s check.  

Riley Smyth and Julia Gregg round out the top three, sitting in a share of third at 6-under.  The final round will begin at 7:30 a.m. local time, with Smyth and Gregg teeing off at 12:30 p.m., just 10 minutes before Gabsa and Frye at 12:40. 10 athletes are within three shots of  the lead, making for an interesting Championship Sunday.

1st: Lainey Frye

• Leads the tournament at 8-under 
• One shot lead 
• Signed for a 2-under second round 
• Carded a 6-under opening round that consisted of seven birdies and one  bogey 
• First round leader 
• 2025 Epson Tour rookie 
• Has made eight consecutive cuts this season, including the Great Lakes  Championship 
• Earned one top 10 finish, a T5 result at the Reliance Matrix Championship  presented by Vegas 
• Only has three finishes outside of the top 25 
• Played collegiate golf at the University of Kentucky 
• 2-time Augusta National Women’s Amateur participant 
  • 2024 – T30 
  • 2023 – MC 
• 3-time U.S. Women’s Amateur participant
  • 2022 stroke play co-champion 
  • 2022-2023 Edith Cummings Munson Award winner

2nd: Isi Gabsa

• Signed for a second round 4-under, 68
• Bogey-free
• Made five birdies and two bogeys for a 3-under first round
• Has made five cuts in seven starts this season
• Season-best finish is T21 at the IOA Golf Classic presented by Aperture
• Won the 2018 The Forsyth Classic presented by the Decatur Park District
• Earned 14 additional top-10 Epson Tour finishes
• Qualified for and competed in the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally

T3 Riley Smyth and Julia Gregg

Smyth

• 6-under second round consisted of six birdies, one eagle and two bogeys
• Co-low round of the day 
• Carded three birdies and three bogeys in the first round 
• Has made six cuts in eight starts this season 
• Won the Central Florida Championship 
  • First tournament of the season
• Earned one additional top 10 finish 
  • T8 at the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort  and Spa 
• No. 8 in the Race for the Card 

Gregg

• Went 4-under during the second round 
  • Made eight birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey 
• Signed for a 2-under first round 
  • Made three birdies and one bogey 
• 2025 Epson Tour rookie 
• Has made four cuts in eight starts 
• Season-best finish is T18 at the Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic
• Played collegiate golf at the University of Arkansas 

T5: Three Rookies are in the group of six that share fifth place. 

Erika Hara

• Made three birdies and one bogey during the second round 
  • Carded a bogey-free, 3-under in round one 
  • Made three birdies 
• 2025 Epson Tour rookie 
• Has made seven consecutive cuts 
• Earned three top-10 finishes 
  • T6 – Atlantic Beach Classic presented by Access Golf 
  • T6 – IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort and  Spa 
  • T7 – FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship 
• Earned a T16 result at the 2024 Honda LPGA Thailand 
• Two-time Japan Women’s Open Golf Championship winner 

Alice Hodge

• Signed for a 6-under second round 
  • Made seven birdies and one bogey 
  • Co-low round of the day 
• Signed for 1-over during the first round 
  • Made two birdies and three bogeys 
• 2025 Epson Tour rookie 
• Has made three cuts in seven starts 
• Season-best finish is T5 at the Copper Rock Championship 
• Won two NCAA Regional Championships with Florida State University in 2021  and 2022 

Carla Tejedo Mulet

• Signed for a 4-under second round 
  • Five birdies and one bogey 
• Was 1-under after the first round
  • Made four birdies and three bogeys 
• 2025 Epson Tour rookie 
• No. 6 in the Race for the Card 
• Has made seven cuts in eight starts 
• Four top-10 finishes 
  • T6 – Atlantic Beach Classic presented by Access Golf 
  • T8 – IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort and Spa 
  • T2 – Copper Rock Championship 
  • T3 – FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship
• Was on the 2024 Louisiana State University All-NCAA Championship team