The Epson Tour closes the 2018 season this week with the Epson Tour Championship at LPGA International, Jones Course. The 72-hole event begins on Thursday, October 4 with the final round scheduled for Sunday, October 7.

The field of 108 players from the United States and around the globe will compete for a $225,000 total purse and a $33,750 winner’s payout.

Final Push for LPGA Tour Cards

This week boasts 43 of the top-44 players in the Volvik Race for the Card standings as they prepare for the final event of the year. No. 1 Dottie Ardina and No. 2 Ruixin Liu are a lock and have secured their LPGA Tour cards for 2019. While there are no guarantees players, No. 3 Linnea Strom, No. 4 Stephanie Meadow and No. 5 Elizabeth Szokol, are in great position to earn their card and the top 43 players on the current money list have a mathematical chance at an LPGA Tour card this week. If Louise Stahle, who ranks 43rd in the Volvik Race for the Card standings with $23,950 in earnings, wins the event her total earnings would jump to $57,700, which is more than current No. 10 Kendall Dye who has earned $57,263 (looking at if they were to make no additional money this week).

Rohanna Back to Defend

Rachel Rohanna makes her first trip back to Daytona Beach since becoming a first-time mother. Last October, the former Ohio State University standout went 13-under to win the Epson Tour Championship and collect $30,000. Rohanna did it all with a well-kept secret at the time; she was six weeks pregnant. Rohanna has played a limited schedule in 2018 and is one of two sponsor invites in this week’s event.

Epson Tour Player of the Year Race

The player that earns the most money at the end of the season is honored as the Epson Player of the Year. Although No. 1 Dottie Ardina is in the driver’s seat with $94,954 in earnings, the award is still up for grabs.

If Ruixin Liu wins the event, she will be the Epson Player of the Year even if Ardina finishes second.

If Ardina misses the cut and doesn’t earn money, Linnea Strom, No. 3 on the money list with $66,463, Stephanie Meadow, No. 4 with $66, 395 and Elizabeth Szokol, No. 5 with $63,882 must win the event in order to jump Ardina.

Gaelle Truet Rookie of the Year Race

The Gaelle Truet Rookie of the Year award is given to the Epson Tour rookie that earns the most money.

Linnea Strom has had a solid hold on the top spot in the rookie race the better part of 2018, and she is currently the only rookie that sits inside the top 10 in the Volvik Race for the Card standings at No. 3. Jenny Haglund is presently second amongst rookies with $56,914. Haglund will need to finish third or better to jump Strom in the standings. Eun Jeong Seong ($46,921) also has a chance to bump Strom with a win.

The award is named after Gaelle Truet, who played on the Duramed FUTURES Tour from 2004-2006 before she died tragically in a car accident.

Will History Repeat Itself?

Every year except last year dating back to 2008, someone from outside the top 10 has jumped into the top 10 at the final event of the year.

2016: Laura Gonzalez Escallon (11th to 5th) and Nelly Korda (12th to 9th)

2015: Brianna Do (12th to 3rd)

2014: Demi Runas (15th to 9th)

2013: Perrine Delacour (20th to 8th)

2012: Daniela Iacobelli (22nd to 5th) - Iacobelli won the Epson Tour Championship

2011: Jenny Gleason (11th to 9th)

2010: Hannah Jun (12th to 9th)

2009: Song Yi Choi (11th to 5th)

2008: Sophia Sheridan (12th to 9th)

In eight of the past ten years, one player has jumped into the top 10 in the last week, thereby bumping a player from the top 10. Last year for the first time since 2006, the top 10 held up in the final week. Since the formation of the Epson Tour in 1999, there have been only four years where a player hasn’t moved into the top 10 in the final week (2002, 2003, 2006, 2017).

Field Breakdown - Epson Tour Championship

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