GROUP ONE | RD1: 7:44 AM CT | RD2: 12:24 PM CT

Fatima Fernandez Cano

Fernandez Cano has found her form as of late on the Epson Tour, finishing in the top 5 in three of her last for starts, including a runner-up finish at last week’s Four Winds Invitational. The Spaniard has a decorated career on the Epson Tour, winning twice and collecting 25 total top 10 finishes since her rookie season in 2018. Fernandez Cano finished second in the Race for the Card in 2021 to earn LPGA Tour status for the 2022 season. This year she has three top 10 finishes to her name in 10 starts and is currently No. 11 in the Race for the Card.

Cassie Porter

Porter started out her season on a high note, finishing in third at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic, the Tours opening event. After the strong finish, the Epson Tour sophomore hit a slump, missing three of her next four cuts. Her season then flipped on its head when she captured her first career professional victory at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship. After the win, she has yet to miss a cut and added a T7 finish at the Dream First Bank Charity Classic to her top 10 tally for the season. Now with just four events remaining, Porter is No. 6 in the Race for the Card and her dream of playing on the LPGA Tour is within reach.

Pornanong Phatlum

Phatlum took one of the biggest jumps into the top 15 after her win at the Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic, moving over 20 spots up the rankings. Despite it being her first win on either the Epson Tour or LPGA Tour, she has put together an extremely accomplished resume. While on the LPGA Tour, Phatlum amassed 30 top 10 finishes, resulting in nearly $5 million in career earnings, with a runner-up finish at the 2018 AIG Women’s British Open being one of the major highlights of her time on the LPGA Tour. She has also represented Thailand three times in the International Crown and in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

GROUP TWO | RD1: 11:51 AM CT | RD2: 7:11 AM CT

Antonia Malate

Malate has had an up-and-down season to start off her professional career. The rookie has only missed six cuts in 2024 but has yet to have a breakthrough performance that moves her up the standings. There have been flashes of tournament winning play from the California native throughout the season, with a T11 finish at the Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic and a T13 finish at the Otter Creek Championship. At both events Malate was in one of the final five groupings, showcasing her high level of play. Keep an eye out for the rookie this weekend as she looks for her breakthrough performance.

Lakareber Abe

Abe enters the week coming off two missed cuts but before the unfortunate two event stretch, the University of Alabama alumna made six straight cuts on the Epson Tour. She had an impact on the LPGA Tour this season as well, finishing T8 at the Dow Championship with partner Georgia Oboh after a final round 63. This is Abe’s fifth appearance at the Guardian Championship, making the cut three times in her career and will try to make it four times by the time Sunday comes around.

Maria Torres

Torres is one of three past champions of the Guardian Championship who is in the field this week. She is also a former Olympian, competing for Puerto Rico in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Torres is the first player from Puerto Rico to earn full status on the LPGA Tour after securing her spot at 2017 LPGA Q-Series. This year on the Epson Tour, the veteran’s best finish is a runner-up result at the Island Resort Championship earlier this year. Torres is going to pull from past memories in Prattville in hopes of another strong finish on the Senator Course.

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