Courtesy photo Epson Tour Espon Tour golfer Leah John tees off during an event.

HARRIS — Golf fans can rejoice.

The Island Resort Championship returns to Sweetgrass Golf Club for its 14th iteration June 20-22.

A $225,000 purse is up for grabs as 144 players continue their journey to the LPGA. One of those golfers is Leah John.

Now in her second year on the tour, John is a long-ball hitter who took a chance on the sport of golf, relocating her life from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to the University of Nevada.

Now, she’s one step away from reaching the LPGA.

Daily Press sports editor “The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg sat down with John to discuss her journey from Vancouver to the Epson Tour.

Big Dog: So, you’re in your second year on the pro circuit. How are you enjoying it so far?

Leah John: I love the adventure of it all. We get to travel to some beautiful places, meet some amazing people. So that has been a pleasant surprise. It’s hard in great ways, like it’s challenging. I had a rough start to my season, so I felt like I had to pick myself back up there. I am building up my confidence again, it’s been great. I have some really awesome friends out here that make it all enjoyable. It’s wonderful. It’s a good way to live your life.

BD: You’re originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and went to the University of Nevada. How did you make the jump from Vancouver to Reno?

LJ: Yeah, my story is funny. I I played a lot of sports growing up, so I didn’t really get into golf until or competing in golf until later in life. When I was 17 I decided I wanted to play collegiately, and I wasn’t good. I had no resume to offer. Definitely wasn’t on anyone’s radar. And so I had one good season, I took a gap year to work on my game, and my coach at Nevada was awesome. She recruited me, and I loved her, loved the program, and so I just went down there and grew from there.

BD: What was the biggest adjustment for you moving from Canada to the United States?

LJ: I would say, well, the coolest thing about the United States is how much you love sports and how big it is in your culture. I would say the adjustment of being an athlete is a big deal down here. Being recognized and valued on that level was probably the biggest and best adjustment to have. The amount of support for it all and opportunities that you can do with it. I never got questioned if I said I wanted to be a professional golfer. I never got questioned about it. It was always like, “Oh, if you’re ever down here, come stay with us” whereas sometimes I find back in Canada I tell someone that, and they’re like “Oh, what are you going to do if that doesn’t work out?” So, just a bit of a different mentality.

BD: How do you feel your first year on the tour went? You made 10 cuts in 12 events, you had some success right?

LJ: I’m more than pleased with how it started off. It was funny, like, hopping on the Epson tour I didn’t really have any expectations. Like, let’s see how this goes. Let’s see what it’s all about. At the end of the day I just want to keep my job. In golf you can get and lose your job quickly. So it’s been successful. I think it’s offered everything it’s meant to offer me, because the Epson tour is all about developing as a player and as a professional. So yes, it’s been a successful season.

BD: Talk to me about your first round at Sweetgrass last year. Personally there’s no way I shoot under triple digits. How was the first round here for you?

LJ: This course is intimidating, but it’s also (a course where) you can make it happen for you. I remember my first round being a grind. There’s definitely holes you know you should take advantage of, and ones that you know par is good. They’re demanding. The par threes are long, you need to hit good shots. I believe, in my first round, I played OK. Wasn’t anything great. The first round was a good setup into my second round.

BD: I saw a lot of golfers struggle with hole No. 15, the island par three hole. How did you attack it?

LJ: That was fun. I remember one round was really windy into the face, which is not what you want going to an island green. I hit my balls, super short and to the right, I barely stayed up in the hay field by the water. I had this really hard chip, and I chipped it up and I made up and down. That’s an intimidating hole. Like I said, you want to hit a good golf shot on it, but it’s a nice memory of a scramble hole.

BD: I heard you talking with some of the TV crews that you’re a long ball hitter. Where does that skill set come from?

LJ: I think just playing lots of sports and wanting to do things hard and fast growing up. It’s a way to express yourself in the game and find some individuality and swag, I guess, but it’s also fun. Like, hitting a ball as hard as you can is a fun thing.

BD: What other sports did you play growing up?

LJ: I water skied. I did basketball, volleyball, snow skiing, tennis, and track. I kind of did everything under the sun.

BD: What’s different about your golf game in 2025 as opposed to 2024?

LJ: I would say that in the beginning of the year I was learning course setup and maybe what parts of my game needed to be sharper, like short game, wedge work and putting inside of 10 feet. That was an area I really had to spend more time on, but even more so, the self management in the game. It’s a long season. It’s a journey. Finding ways to still be happy with yourself at the end of the day, that’s probably the hardest part and but most valuable part, because you just never know when it’s going to be your week. You don’t want to wreck a week because of being upset about a previous one. So I’d say, spending more time on self work has been more of a priority than hitting a ball per se.

“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg is a multi-time award-winning sports writer and photographer who proudly serves as sports editor for The Daily Press (Escanaba). He can be reached at mvosburg@dailypress.net. Follow him on Instagram (@themantheycallmitch) and X (realmitchvburg).