Kate Villegas Breaks Through for First Win at Inaugural Wisconsin Women's Championship
MADISON, Wisconsin — Kate Villegas earned her first professional victory Friday, closing with a 3-under 69 to win the inaugural Wisconsin Women's Championship at TPC Wisconsin at 11-under 205, three shots clear of the field on the ANNIKA Women's All Pro Tour. Villegas earns $10,000 and jumps to third in the Callaway Race 2 Qualifying standings, only 78 points behind first.
The win marks the first ANNIKA WAPT event held in the state and the first professional women's golf tournament in Wisconsin since 2019. Villegas opened with a 66 and backed it up with a 70 before sealing the victory in the final round.
Villegas said she came into the week feeling as good about her game as she has all season. "This week I was just super confident with my game. I feel like I've been at a really good place, just playing super consistent," she said. She also felt TPC Wisconsin set up in her favor. "I knew this course was challenging, but it suited my eye in that it was challenging off the tee, and I feel like you have to be a pretty good ball striker. So I was pretty confident coming into the week."
The victory ends a run of close calls for Villegas, who said the experience of contending without closing the deal helped prepare her for Friday's final round. "Being so close to a win, you kind of learn how to handle those nerves," she said. "Even though my last hole I was really nervous, I kind of took it as a challenge and just tried to enjoy my day and not think too much about winning. Obviously those thoughts came into my mind, but I was just trying to take it one shot at a time."
Playing alongside one of her closest friends on tour, Tiffany Le, also helped settle her down the stretch. She explained that it "was definitely helpful for me because it kind of calmed me down."
Villegas said the win followed a conversation with her father just a week earlier. "I was talking to my dad last week. I was like, 'Dang, I'm the only one in the top 5 that hasn't had a win.' And then he said it can be your week this week. I was like, ' For sure,'” she said. "So it was kind of crazy."
Geneva, IL native, Katherine Lemke, finished runner-up at 8-under 208, climbing one spot in the final round on the strength of a 70 after opening 71-67.
Both Villegas and Lemke receive an exemption into the EPSON Tour’s Smoky Mountain Championship presented by Food City on August 6, 2026.
Three players tied for third at 7-under 209. Canadian Tillie Claggett made the biggest final-round move of the week, vaulting 17 spots up the leaderboard with a tournament-best 6-under 66 to finish 72-71-66. LoraLie Cowart and Ana Jimenez each climbed five spots as well. Cowart carded a 68-73-68, and Jimenez went bogey-free down the stretch en route to a 70-71-68.
Canada's Victoria Zheng and American Kaylyn Noh shared sixth at 6-under 210. Zheng was the biggest climber in the top 10, jumping 14 spots with a final-round 67, while Noh backed up an opening 71 with rounds of 70 and 69.
A trio shared eighth at 5-under 211: Natalie Vo, amateur Addison Klonowski and Tiffany Le. Vo was steady all week (73-68-70), Klonowski cooled off with an even-par final round after sitting inside the top five through 36 holes, and Le's 68-69 start couldn't survive a final-round 74. Zoe Slaughter rounded out the group just behind at 4-under 212 after an up-and-down week that included a 65 sandwiched between rounds of 75 and 72.
The Wisconsin Women's Championship is an official event on the ANNIKA Women's All Pro Tour, which serves as a developmental pathway for professional women's golfers to the Epson Tour and LPGA Tour.
Travis Humphrey
ANNIKA WAPT Media & Communications
