HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. – The 144-player field for the third annual Inova Mission Inn Resort and Club Championship from May 27-29 has been finalized by the Epson Tour, as the “Road to the LPGA” returns to the El Campeón Championship Course at Mission Inn Resort & Club.
Individuals will compete in a 54-hole, stroke-play format for $200,000 and a winner’s share of $30,000. A cut will be made to the top-60 competitors plus ties after 36 holes. Tournament admission is free.
Seven of the top-10 players in the Race for the Card will be in Lake County. Among the group is 2022 tournament champions Kum-Kang Park, Linnea Strom, Gabby Then and Grace Kim, the newest winner on Tour after securing the IOA Golf Classic title on May 22.
“My first professional win was very sweet, especially with my dad there to caddie,” said Kim, an Epson Tour rookie. “It provides great momentum for the rest of the season and sets me up to give chase to an LPGA Tour card. I’ll focus on one week at a time, one shot at a time to accomplish goals in front of me.”
Windermere native and University of Florida alumna Sam Wagner has made the trip to central Florida for her third start in the Inova Mission Inn Championship. The five-year Epson Tour member finished in outright fourth place last year. She is one of five former Gators in the field.
“I always enjoy competing on Florida courses,” said Wagner, a 2016 All-SEC Freshman Team selection. “It’s not very often you get one tournament in your backyard, let alone two like I’ve been fortunate to enjoy this week and last on the Epson Tour. Some good memories here at Mission Inn from a year ago, so hope to use that top-5 finish as a confidence boost when we tee it up.”
Two tournament sponsor exemptions round out the field including 13-year Epson Tour veteran Shasta Averyhardt and amateur Yana Wilson. The 15-year-old from Nevada will make her Epson Tour debut.
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity provided by Inova International, Mission Inn Resort & Club and the Epson Tour,” said Wilson. “It’s exciting to be able to compete against some of the top female pro golfers in the world and this week in Howey-in-the-Hills will be an unforgettable experience.”
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