Season-long efforts come to a close this week at the Epson Tour Championship with 10 athletes earning LPGA Tour cards for the 2024 season. Three have already locked up their ticket to the big stage, and seven cards remain up for grabs in the season-ending event. The 8:33 am grouping off No. 1, which includes Ssu-Chia Cheng, Karen Chung and Haylee Harford, will all have a lot at stake, as both Cheng and Chung could have a chance at one of the seven cards with a win.
Ssu-Chia Cheng
The Chinese Taipei native is coming into the Epson Tour Championship off a T6 finish at the Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic presented by Pepsi, her first top-10 finish since tying for 10th at the Four Winds Invitational in early August. But Cheng is no stranger to victory, claiming both the 2019 FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship and 2022 Island Resort Championship in previous years. The 25-year-old came close to another win earlier this season at the Hartford HealthCare Women’s Championship, losing to Jenny Bae in a three-person, seven-hole playoff.
Karen Chung
Leading up to the Epson Tour Championship, Chung has been on fire. The New Jersey native has carded four top-10 finishes in her last five events, two of which were top fives. The 28-year-old clearly has momentum, finishing out the regular season with a T8 at the Black Desert Resort Championship presented by Marcella, a T3 at the Guardian Championship, a T4 at the Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout presented by Pepsico and a T10 at the Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic presented by Pepsi. Currently a dual member with status on both the Epson and LPGA Tours, Chung could finally achieve her dreams of having full status on the LPGA Tour this week.
Haylee Harford
Harford has secured her status on the Epson Tour for next season, currently sitting at No. 41 on the money list. However, a top finish at this week’s championship could propel her into the top 35 and automatically send her to LPGA Q-Series in December for a second shot at LPGA Tour Membership. The Ohio native first earned Membership for the 2022 LPGA Tour season after finishing T32 at LPGA Q-Series. The 27-year-old has made 13 cuts in 17 starts on the Epson Tour this season and has carded two top-10 finishes, a tie for fifth at the Inova Mission Inn Resort and Club Championship and a tie for sixth at the Four Winds Invitational.
Fans can watch Cheng, Chung and Harford’s opening round on EpsonTour.com from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET. Commentary will be provided for Nos. 16, 17 and 18. Additional streaming can be found here – WATCH LIVE
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