Chaves Breaks Through with First Professional Victory at Michigan Women's Open Eight years of chasing the dream finally paid off for Milagros "Mila" Chaves. The 30-year-old native of Paraguay earned the first professional victory of her career by sinking a 12-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to win the Coca-Cola/GameAbove Michigan Women's Open at Crystal Mountain Resort. The championship also debuted as an official stop on the ANNIKA Women's All-Pro Tour this year, welcoming 80 tour professionals to the field. Chaves finished at 8-under-par (208) before defeating ANNIKA Women's All-Pro Tour money leader Katie Lu and former UCLA standout Kate Villegas on the first playoff hole. The victory was worth $10,000, an exemption into the LPGA's Greater Toledo Open, and a significant boost in the ANNIKA-WAPT Callaway Race 2 Qualifying standings. After weather delayed the completion during the second round, Chaves entered the final round two shots off the lead. Five consecutive birdies on holes six through 10 moved her into contention, and she stayed composed despite two late bogeys. "I just tried to put myself in the fairway and on the green and tried to make birdies," she said. "I really enjoyed the golf course and the resort. Michigan golf courses are always so pure." Villegas closed with a 67, highlighted by an eagle on the 18th hole, while Chaves scrambled to save par on the final hole of regulation. Lu then narrowly missed a 15-foot eagle putt that would have won the tournament outright, sending the trio to a sudden-death playoff. Chaves capitalized immediately, rolling in the winning birdie putt on the first extra hole. The victory was especially meaningful after eight years of chasing the LPGA dream. "After so many years of trying, you start to think you're never going to win," Chaves said. "Last year I missed the cut here by one shot, but I knew I could do better. This time I made putts." In the Legends Division, Michigan Golf Hall of Famer Suzy Green-Roebuck captured her third consecutive title with an even-par 72 to finish at 6-under (210). The victory matched her three Michigan Women's Open championships and serves as a confidence boost heading into the U.S. Senior Women's Open at her home club, Barton Hills Country Club, later this summer. Thank you to Coca-Cola and GameAbove for their tremendous support of the Michigan Women’s Open, and to Crystal Mountain Resort, their staff, and their volunteers, for helping make the week a huge success. | 