Nothing like getting your first win as a rookie in your first season as a professional.
San Jose native Kaleiya Romero, a Junior Tour of Northern California alum, did just that, capturing the title at June’s Epson Tour Island Resort Championship presented by Delta County Chamber at Sweetgrass GC in Michigan.
Playing in her first season as a pro, Romero would win in dramatic fashion, defeating Kelly Xu in a sudden-death playoff after the two finished regulation tied at 16-under 200.
It was sweet redemption. Just a week earlier, Romero, the sister of No.1 world-ranked amateur Kiara Romero, lost in a sudden-death playoff at the Great Lakes Championship at The Highlands.
In the playoff at the Island Resort Championship, Romero, who played collegiately at Pepperdine University, knocked her 5-iron shot from the fairway to just inside 10 feet for eagle. Romero would sink the putt to claim not only victory, but also 500 points in Race for the Card standings, along with winning the 2026 Pure Michigan Cup.
“Super happy, kind of relieved, said Romero, who played with Kiara in this year’s U.S. Women’s Open at The Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. “Last week I was nervous. I think I haven't been in contention in a while just because I had taken a year off from competing. Yeah, so just to be back, to have another opportunity to try again and come out on top, it just means a lot and super happy.”