At the end of each Epson Tour season, 15 athletes are awarded LPGA Tour membership, something they’ve earned due to hard work, dedication to the game and consistent performance each week on the leaderboards.

But the Tour isn’t just about graduating the top athletes to the next level. Visiting 20 cities throughout the year, another key part of the circuit’s mission is to grow the game and make a positive impact within the communities it visits. And while celebrating the 15 players who have accomplished the tremendous feat of finishing the season as the Epson Tour’s best is important, it’s equally as necessary to recognize those who represent the organization in a positive light both on and off the golf course.

Cue the Epson Community Achievement Award and the Heather Wilbur Spirit Award.

The Epson Community Achievement Award is a newer initiative for the Tour, one that was prompted by the Tour’s title sponsor, Seiko Epson Corporation. Started in 2023, the award was created to recognize an athlete who willingly spends their time and energy participating in junior clinics, interacting with fans or creating a second home with their host family.

Savannah Carlson was named the 2025 recipient of the honor at the LPGA Card Ceremony, which followed the conclusion of the Epson Tour Championship at Indian Wells on Oct. 5.

“It’s such an honor. It’s a really big deal,” Carlson said about winning the Epson Community Achievement Award. “Golf can be such a naturally selfish sport, and any chance that we have to give back and be there for one another, and for the people who support us in every city that we visit, venue that we’re hosted at, it’s really special.”

Outside of the ropes, Carlson spends a lot of time interacting with the communities she visits, often participating in junior and women’s clinics, hospital visits, and more. In fact, on her Instagram channel, the California native even credited a visit to the Beacon’s Children’s Hospital in South Bend, Ind., as one that gave her inspiration and a new meaning to each tournament in which she plays.

“It’s really important to take a pause and remember that it does take a village to get anywhere in life,” said Carlson after receiving the award. “If we can be that support system for somebody else, I think it shows a lot of character. I think it makes being a pro athlete a little more wholesome.”

And after her courageous battle against breast cancer, Kim Kaufman has been named the 2025 Heather Wilbur Spirit Award recipient. The award serves as a full-circle moment for the South Dakota native, who was diagnosed just one week after the 2024 Epson Tour Championship at Indian Wells.

“I want to say a huge thank you for awarding me the Heather Wilbur Spirit Award for this year on the Epson Tour,” said Kaufman. “We all know it’s been a long year for me, but to be recognized for my perseverance and coming out on the other side, it just means the world to me.”

The diagnosis prevented her from finishing a strong 2024 season at the Final Qualifying portion of 2024 LPGA Q-Series and also sidelined the Epson Tour veteran for the 2025 season. But that didn’t stop Kim from making her mark on the Tour this year.

In July, Kim attended the Hartford HealthCare Women’s Championship presented by Munich Re, encouraging every athlete in the field to take advantage of complimentary health screenings provided by the Epson Tour and Hartford HealthCare. Despite her own battles, Kim has remained an advocate for early detection, making sure to leave her peers and the game in a better place than she found them after what was a difficult experience for her.

But Kim's peers also showed up for her in several ways. Care packages and meals were organized by her friends and fellow athletes, and now, they’ve chosen to honor her in the best official way they can – through the Heather Wilbur Spirit Award.

“Support comes in many forms, and it just makes you feel good to know that your fellow players are thinking about you,” Kaufman added.

Still on the mend but slowly getting back into competitive golf, Kim will continue her journey back to the LPGA Tour in October, starting at the Qualifying Stage of 2025 LPGA Q-Series. To read more about Kim’s journey, please click here.

Savannah Carlson, Kim Kaufman Honored with 2025 End-of-Season Awards

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