After an exhilarating final round and two-hole playoff, Savannah Vilaubi is walking away from the Otter Creek Championship a two-time Epson Tour winner. She defeated a resilient Yahui Zhang with a 12-footer for birdie on the second extra hole to win for the first time since the 2023 Copper Rock Championship.

Vilaubi's final round saw her make four birdies and three bogeys, but despite the struggles, the 30-year-old was able to save par on the 18th and force a playoff with Zhang. Zhang tested the process Vilaubi has been so focused on this season, but experience ultimately prevailed, and the crowd roared for the California native when her final putt dropped.

"After missing the birdie on 18 during the regular round I was like, okay, let's gear up. Let's giddy up for another playoff,” said Vilaubi. “Obviously, I'm no stranger to those. As much as we don't want to need a playoff, I was very grateful for the opportunity. Pressure is a privilege. Playoffs are a privilege. It started with that mindset.

"I thought back to the Copper Rock (Championship) playoff and was like, you know we won that after two holes. I'm willing to stay out here for however long it takes. I was praying for stamina and just having the grit to continue on," said Vilaubi. "When it came time to hit into the green again, I was like, give me that 3-wood. We are not laying up here. I had too much adrenaline not to use it.

“I hit a really good 3-wood, truly my best of the tournament, and it was right in the throat. I didn't make my greatest chip up there, but I was so sure that I was going to make this putt. I've been making them from that distance all week and I trusted my speed and my line, kept my head down and saw it go in. It was really exciting, and I'm so happy to be on the other side of it."

Vilaubi felt like the difference between the Copper Rock Championship playoff in 2023 and this one was her emotional management. The University of California, Riverside alumna has had a rough start to the year, making four cuts in eight starts and shooting a first-round 88 at the U.S. Women's Open presented by Ally in May. Despite the losses and difficulties, Vilaubi has kept her head up, finally paying off for the 30-year-old.

"I've been speaking a lot about process, and this whole year has felt like one giant process," said Vilaubi. "It started with a couple of made putts at courses that I've notoriously struggled at. But I hit a rough patch and didn't feel like I was marrying the physical and the mental game. To have them all come together, and especially after such a blow-up round at the U.S. Open, it feels so good."

With the win, Vilaubi ranks 15th in the Race for the Card standings and hopes to keep the momentum going, to ultimately earn her LPGA Tour card at the Epson Tour Championship in October.

"I can't speak enough about process, and I'm just going to stay diligent with it,” Vilaubi said. “God's been super patient with me, and He let me mess up. He let me learn from that. He's here, and I can cruise through the rest of the year with Him and my coaches and hopefully my best golf shows up along the way."

Despite losing in the playoff, Zhang has shown her Epson Tour counterparts that she is a force to be reckoned with. The 18-year-old clawed her way back from an opening-round 72 to find herself in the playoff after 54 holes of hard work. Her final-round scorecard saw six birdies and two bogeys, and she felt like her putting had improved from the last four tournaments. With some hard work and more experience, it's safe to say that after four top-10 finishes in six events, fans will likely see Zhang in contention again this season.

"The last four tournaments, my putting has been really bad," said Zhang. "Every day I'd play 30 putts or 33 putts, but this competition, the first day, I putted like 36, and yesterday, I putted 26. My putter was really good, so I think I can stable that thing and continue to work on my finishes because on the last hole I felt a little bit tired."

Both Zhang and Vilaubi will tee it up in Harris, Michigan next week at the Island Resort Championship. Fiona Xu, Cassie Porter, Madison Young and Briana Chacon, who alongside Zhang make up the top five in the Race for the Card standings, will also tee it up at Sweetgrass Golf Club.

IN THE WINNER'S CIRCLE WITH SAVANNAH VILAUBI

Hometown/Resides: Downey, California/St. George, Utah
Age: 30
Rookie Year: 2016

Category
2024 Race for the Card Rank	15
2024 Race for the Card Points	542.686
2024 Epson Tour Wins	1
2024 Epson Tour Top 10s	1
2024 Season Earnings	$49,434
Career Epson Tour Wins	2
Career Epson Tour Top 10s	9
Epson Tour Career Money	$150,303

OF NOTE

The 2024 Otter Creek Championship is her second Epson Tour victory
- Both victories were playoff wins
She defeated Yahui Zhang in a two-hole playoff
Vilaubi’s win moves her into the top 15 in the 2024 Race for the Card standings
- She finished No. 18 in the 2023 Race for the Card standings
She is the second player to pick up another Epson Tour career win in 2024
Vilaubi has made five cuts in nine starts in 2024
- Her best finish before the win was T34 at the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort and Spa

Vilaubi Holds On in Two-Hole Playoff for Second Epson Tour Victory

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