Four Winds Invitational returns to Blackthorn Golf Club for 15th anniversary

The Four Winds Invitational, sponsored by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and its Four Winds Casinos, teed off at South Bend’s Blackthorn Golf Club on Friday, July 10. This opened up a weekend of premier play heading into the second half of the Ladies Professional Golf Association’s (LPGA) qualifying Epson Tour.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Four Winds Invitational, and to mark the occasion, the tournament returned to Blackthorn for the first time since 2020. The tournament attracted 144 athletes representing over 20 countries to South Bend.

“It feels great to have the Four Winds Invitational return to Blackthorn,” said Tim Firestone, CEO of Blackthorn Operating Group. “We have invested a lot of blood, sweat, and tears over the years into this event, and it feels great to have it return.”

The Four Winds Invitational is a favorite summer event in South Bend and the surrounding region. The free-to-attend tournament gives the public a chance to see athletes competing at the top of their game, and the influx of visitors means South Bend’s dining, hospitality, and tourism sectors get a nice boost in visibility and business. The tournament also produces a large donation for Beacon Children’s Hospital every year.

“It feels awesome to be a part of giving back to the community and seeing exactly what the funds are being used for each year,” Firestone said.

Heading into the tournament, Mexico’s Lauren Olivares led a close Race for the Card followed by United States’ Kaleiya Romero, who was less than three points behind. Previous Four Winds Invitational champions Leah John and Kim Kaufman also returned to the tournament for a chance to accumulate more points. Thirty rookies made their debut during this year’s Epson Tour. For spectators and Blackthorn staff alike, the excitement surrounding the Four Winds Invitational is palpable.

“There is a lot of coordination and planning that goes into hosting a professional golf tournament. We worked very closely with Four Winds and their team in ensuring the event goes smoothly,” Firestone said. “Hotels, restaurants and others benefit from having the players, families and the Epson Tour in South Bend for an entire week.”

As Sunday’s round came to a close, Haylee Harford Sanchez was named this year’s Four Winds Invitational champion, shooting 15 under par. On her heels were Megan Streicher and Liqi Zeng, shooting -13 and -11, respectively. As the Epson Tour moves towards its championship tournament in October, the Race for the Card is still neck-and-neck.

“I’m really excited for the next couple tournaments. It’s an incredible experience to have a chance to earn my card. The courses are getting better and better. This week was a beautiful golf course. I really enjoyed it,” Golfer Katherine Muzi said.

With the conclusion of the Four Winds Invitational, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and its Four Winds Casinos look toward the rest of the year. Check out all of the fun events and specials coming in 2026 at fourwindscasino.com.