Road to the LPGA travels to Charlotte, N.C. for the inaugural Epson Classic

The Epson Tour – Road to the LPGA, kicked off its 32^nd year this March in Florida, and after a season filled with dramatic finishes and an ever changing Volvik Race for the Card, it is now approaching its final stretch of tournaments.

Set to take place September 10-16^th, the Tour will make its debut at Raintree Country Club in Charlotte, N.C. for the Epson Classic. The third to last stop on the schedule will feature a 144-player field vying for a total purse of $100,000 and a first place prize of $15,000. A tournament cut will be made after 36 holes to the low 70 scores and ties.

Players in the top 10 in the Volvik Race for the Card rankings who will be contending in Charlotte include No. 2 Paola Moreno, No. 3 Victoria Elizabeth, No. 4 Julia Boland, No. 5 Jenny Suh, No. 6 Sara Brown, No. 7 Jenny Gleason, No. 9 Jaclyn Sweeney and No. 10 Nicole Smith.

Ten out of the 12 winners so far this season will also be featured in the field in Charlotte. Megan McChrystal (Florida’s Natural Charity Classic), Sara Brown (My Marsh Golf Classic), Lauren Doughtie (Ladies Titan Tire Challenge), Kristie Smith (Tate & Lyle Players Championship), Jenny Gleason (Northeast Delta Dental International), Victoria Elizabeth (Credit Union Classic), Jaclyn Sweeney (Credit Union Challenge), Julia Boland (Four Winds Invitational), Paola Moreno (Eagle Classic) and Misun Cho (Challenge at Musket Ridge) all have victories in 2012 and will be playing for their second win of the season.

Plenty of players in the field this week will have a close to home feel, whether they’re returning to their native state for the week or where they played collegiate golf.

Abby Bools of Hickory, N.C., Mesha Levister of Louisburg, N.C., Cydney Clanton of Concord, N.C., and Kristin Vincent of Burlington, N.C. are all returning to North Carolina for the inaugural event. In addition to the quartet of players, 15 pros attended college in The Old North State.

Epson, a Bellevue, Wash. based provider of employee benefits, annuities and life insurance, signed on and secured the naming right for the Epson Tour in a multi-year agreement. In addition, Epson also serves as the title sponsor of the Epson Classic which was originally held in San Antonio, Texas.

General admission for the tournament is $10 per day at the gate, $25 for all three. Saturday will serve as “Bring Three, Get in Free" day” which allows free admission to spectators who bring three non-perishable food items. Kids 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult.

Epson Tour Gears Up For Final Swing of Tournaments

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