LONGWOOD, FLORIDA, October 8, 2016 - The Epson Tour, Road to the LPGA, announced on Saturday evening that the Epson Tour Championship is moving from Daytona Beach to Longwood, Florida and Alaqua Country Club due to Hurricane Matthew and ensuing course conditions at LPGA International. The Epson Tour Championship is now presented by IOA.

First-round play will begin on Thursday, October 13 and the final-round is scheduled for Sunday, October 16. Play will begin at 8:00 a.m. all four days.

“With everything going on in greater Daytona Beach in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, there was just no way that we could ask the community to focus on hosting a professional golf tournament,” said Chief Business Officer Mike Nichols. “Priority number one for the community of Daytona Beach is focusing on recovering so we felt it was the right thing to do to move the tournament to Longwood.”

“We are incredibly thankful to John Ritenour, his team at IOA and the staff at Alaqua Country Club for agreeing to host the Epson Tour Championship,” continued Nichols. “This is such an important tournament for our Tour so I’m grateful for partners like IOA that were willing to step up in short notice and make this possible.”

All activities associated with the scheduled tournament in Daytona Beach have also been cancelled including the pro-am and the pairings party at Daytona International Speedway.

The tournament purse will remain $200,000 and the winner will earn the first-place payout of $30,000. The top 10 on the final Volvik Race for the Card money list will earn LPGA Tour membership for the 2017 season. There will still be a small ceremony in the clubhouse at Alaqua Country Club on Sunday at approximately 3:30 p.m. to recognize the ten graduates.

Practice rounds at Alaqua Country Club will start at noon on Tuesday, October 11 and continue all day on Wednesday, October 12.

The Volvik Race for the Card money list is more competitive than it has ever been. Number 10 on the money list, Clariss Guce (Artesia, Calif.), has just a $995 cushion over No. 11 Laura Gonzalez Escallon (La Hulpe, Belgium).

No. 12, Nelly Korda, the sister of LPGA star Jessica Korda, is just $1,080 outside the top 10 and a spot on the LPGA for next season.

Based on the maximum first-place payout of $30,000, there are 23 players that still have a chance to earn an LPGA Tour card at the Epson Tour Championship presented by IOA. Therese O’Hara, who ranks 23rd on the money list, would increase her earnings to $65,930 with a victory, which is more than the current No. 10 has earned.

Current Volvik Race for the Card Money List Top 15

1. Madelene Sagstrom (Enkoping, Sweden) - $156,184

2. Jackie Stoelting (Vero Beach, Florida) - $95,146

3. Ally McDonald (Fulton, Mississippi) - $91,125

4. Wichanee Meechai (Bangkok, Thailand) - $82,991

5. Dana Finkelstein (Chandler, Arizona) - $74,757

6. Marissa Steen (West Chester, Ohio) - $72,496

7. Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong (Thailand) - $68,760

8. Peiyun Chien (Chinese Taipei) - $67,577

9. Clariss Guce (Artesia, California) - $65,334

10. Erica Popson (Davenport, Florida) - $64,985

11. Laura Gonzalez Escallon (La Hulpe, Belgium) - $63,990

12. Nelly Korda (Bradenton, Florida) - $63,905

13. Augusta James (Bath, Ontario) - $60,321

14. Sophia Popov (Heidelberg, Germany) - $58,892

15. Pavarisa Yoktuan (Thailand) - $51,183

Epson Tour Championship Moving to Longwood Due to Hurricane Matthew

Related Articles