The Central Florida Championship is about to tee off, signifying a new Epson Tour season full of new and elevated opportunities. Once again contested at the Country Club of Winter Haven in Winter Haven, Fla., athletes will begin their journey to the LPGA, competing for the 15 LPGA Tour cards up for grabs at the end of the season. The tournament is the first of 20 opportunities for athletes to achieve their dreams of playing on the biggest stage in women’s golf. Here are five things to know about the 2025 Central Florida Championship:

Important Tournament Information

In 2025, the tournament saw a name change from the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic to the Central Florida Championship. Athletes will continue to compete at the Country Club of Winter Haven for $250,000 and 500 Race for the Card points.

The tournament also continues its long run of being the first event of the season, serving as a new beginning for new and old faces. Tournament admission is free for all competition rounds from Friday to Sunday.

Plata Defends Title

Valery Plata returns to the Country Club of Winter Haven to defend her title in 2025. The 2024 win was her first professional victory since turning pro in 2022, and it was done in an exciting fashion. The 23-year-old defeated Ana Belac in a two-hole playoff, securing the first trophy of the season.

After winning early on in the 2024 Epson Tour season, the Columbian made two more cuts in the Florida stretch but missed four out west before the halfway point of the season. She ultimately finished 17th in the Race for the Card standings, just two spots shy of earning LPGA Tour membership for 2025.

New and Old Faces Tee it Up

The start of a new season is a time to get reacquainted with familiar faces and get to know the new ones. The 2025 field sees the return of top competitors from 2024 and a few past champions of the tournament.

Top veterans teeing it up include Daniela Iacobelli, Amanda Doherty and Lindsey McCurdy Peek, who all found themselves in the top 35 in the Race for the Card standings at the end of 2024. Iacobelli, a Florida native, was one of the 15 LPGA Tour card earners last season, finishing 13th, allowing her to tee it up in some Epson Tour events in 2025. Doherty and McCurdy Peek found themselves outside of the top 15 but well within the top 80, ranking them in the highest priority category for the 2025 season.

Two past champions will also join the defending champion, Valery Plata, in pursuit of a second Central Florida Championship victory. Agathe Laisne (2023) and Kelly Tan (2019) are both looking for a hot start early in the season to propel them back to the LPGA Tour in 2026.

The Tour will see 87 new faces tee it up as rookies in 2025, with 25 of them making their season debut in Winter Haven. Notable rookies include Annabelle Pancake, Yana Wilson, Zoe Antionette Campos, Latanna Stone and Yeji Kwon.

Three Things to Know About the 2025 Central Florida Championship

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