Athletes turned in scores just as hot as the Indian Wells Desert after a long first day of the 2025 Epson Tour Championship. The field of 103 athletes took advantage of the pure conditions on their first time competing at the Indian Wells Golf Resort’s Celebrity Course, producing some of the best opening rounds in tournament history. Sophia Schubert kicked off the morning wave by posting an 8-under 64 to begin her tournament and now finds herself sitting atop the leaderboard.

“My putting, I have worked really hard in the off week last week on putting,” said Schubert when asked what’s been working. “It's been a struggle of mine toward the end of the season. I feel like it's what's kept me from shooting low numbers, and then today everything just fell."

Schubert began her first round with four birdies on her starting nine, two of which were back-to-back on 13 and 14. The 29-year-old then made four consecutive birdies on her back nine starting on the par-4 1st hole and kept a steady pace throughout the rest of her round, closing out with 8-under 64 to sit alone in first early on Thursday. The University of Texas alumna may have already clinched her LPGA Tour card for the 2026 season, but she is still in search of her first win of the 2025 Epson Tour season.

“It brings so much relief,” Sophia said. “That was my goal at the start of the year. To be able to secure that before the last tournament has been a huge relief to me. It's just really freed me up. I know I still want to get a win out here this week or this year. That's my last goal. But overall, I'm really happy.”

Carla Tejedo Mulet battled all morning against her round one playing partner Schubert. The Louisiana State University graduate carded three birdies on her opening nine on the par-4 11th, par-5 13th and par-4 17th holes. Tejedo Mulet then found three consecutive birdies on holes three through five and rounded out her back nine with a birdie on the par-4 9th hole to sneak into second place, signing for a bogey-free 7-under 65 in the first round.

“I've been playing good golf for the past three weeks,” Tejedo Mulet commented. “I put in the work the month that I was off, and this past week, just before the Epson Tour Championship. I think it's just paying off. I put so many hours in, and I knew it was going to come. It's about patience today and just believing in the work that I've done. Yeah, just happy to be here."

The Spaniard finished the day in a tie for second with fellow Epson Tour rookie Alice Hodge. The Florida State alumna has had an up-and-down season, only making seven cuts in 17 starts, but found her groove in the afternoon at the Indian Wells Golf Resort. Hodge started off on a hot streak, making four birdies in her first five holes to turn in 33 at 3-under. The New York native continued her birdie run, dropping four more on the back nine to sign for a 7-under 65.

Tejedo Mulet and Hodge, both competing in their first Epson Tour Championship this week, are eager to continue their strong starts and climb to the top of the leaderboard come Sunday afternoon. Tejedo Mulet is fighting to keep her coveted spot in the top 15 of the Race for the Card and secure an LPGA Tour card for the 2026 season. While Hodge could gain her card with a victory, she is also looking to climb the leaderboard and finish inside the top 35 to guarantee a berth in the Final Qualifying stage of 2025 LPGA Q-Series.

Jessica Welch, Mary Parsons, Rachel Kuehn, Kaleigh Telfer, Ashley Lau, and Becca Huffer all turned in 6-under rounds of 66 to sit two shots off the lead heading into round two. Welch, Parsons, Telfer and Lau all went bogey-free. The second round will begin on Friday at 7:15 a.m. local time. Follow along with live scoring here.

Sophia Schubert Holds a One-Shot Lead After Round One at the 2025 Epson Tour Championship

Related Articles