With the Epson Tour season winding down quickly, the pressure is on for athletes just inside or just outside the top 15 of the Race for the Card, as, after grinding for 17 tournaments over seven months, it’s finally crunch time. The last three tournaments will be the final deciding factors that determine who’s ready to compete at the highest level on the LPGA Tour next year.

And the talent on the Official Qualifying Tour of the LPGA has been intense in 2025. The season-long Race for the Card rankings have seen movement since the first tournament in March, but as of late, that hasn’t been the case. Only three athletes in the top 20 bettered their ranking following the Dream First Bank Charity Classic, including rookie Megan Schofill, who is now 17th and just 102 points from cracking the top 15.

The Tour took a two-week break from tournaments at the beginning of September, allowing athletes a chance to catch their breath and prepare for the final three events of the season. For Schofill, this time was crucial.

“We played three four-week stretches with only two weeks off, so it was definitely a lot of golf and travel,” said Schofill. “It takes a little bit of a mental and physical toll on you. I think for me, to be able to stay at home and not do a lot – reset, recharge, and work on the things that I struggled with in those last two weeks on the road – was really beneficial for me. Hopefully, it’ll help me this week and carry into this week, but you never know with golf.”

While Schofill spent some of the time off tweaking parts of her game, she has been focused more on the mental side, making sure she heads into the final few events with a clear head.

“The first few days, I did a lot of nothing, which was nice,” said Schofill. “But I went to the lake this past weekend and got to spend some time with my friends and family, and that was really nice. There’s a lot more golf coming up, a really important three-week stretch, so I think it was really nice to ground myself and do something non-golf related.”

The final push begins in Prattville, Ala., just an hour away from Auburn University, Schofill’s alma mater. The 24-year-old will take advantage of the proximity, commuting from Auburn to Prattville each day, just as fellow War Eagle Kaleigh Telfer did as a rookie in 2022.

The proximity of this tournament to Auburn gives Schofill an extra edge that is a rarity for Epson Tour athletes as they travel the country throughout the season. The 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion is looking forward to in-person support from her family, coach and future in-laws this week in Alabama.

“A lot of good family and friends will probably come out and watch this week,” said Schofill. “Golf is a pretty lonely game, so I think for me, having support – family and friends coming out and watching me – means a lot to me. They’ve all helped me some way or another to get to this point, so it really reminds me of why I play golf and what really matters.”

And despite how close she is to breaking into the top 15, Schofill isn’t thinking about anything except the shot in front of her. Yes, there are only three attempts remaining to make a big move in the Race for the Card standings, but in her mind, no matter how she finishes, her performance in these three tournaments doesn’t discredit the other 17 events that came before them.

“We’ve played 17 other events that all meant the same, so I think for me, I’m just trying to keep doing what I’ve been doing,” said Schofill. “One shot at a time and not getting ahead of myself. Everything happens for a reason, so I just need to really lock into that and keep focusing on what I’ve been doing.”

Megan Schofill Gears Up for Late-Season Push Near Alma Mater

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