Every year, athletes hailing from 45 different countries come to the United States, ready to compete on the Epson Tour and hopefully, earn a spot in the top 15 of the Race for the Card, securing LPGA Tour membership for the following season. But the 2024 season is a bit different, as 60 spots in the field at the Paris Olympics are also on the line along with those 15 Tour cards.
LPGA veteran Mariajo Uribe is one of those athletes looking to make her country proud in the Games this summer and is taking advantage of deep Epson Tour fields, like the one at last week’s Atlantic Beach Classic, to make that happen.
“I always knew the depth of this tour, but coming out here and playing, it's definitely unbelievable,” said Uribe after Saturday’s final round in Atlantic Beach, Fla. “This week especially, it's been great. It feels like an LPGA event. We've been treated like LPGA players, and the course was in great shape.”
A 5-under final round at Atlantic Beach Country Club saw Uribe ultimately finish in a tie for fourth in her second Epson Tour start of the year, and she is now ranked 17th in the Race for the Card. With the Olympics and her impending retirement both looming, the top-10 finish has given the 34-year-old some momentum as she works to finish the final months of her golf career strong.
“I'm playing only these last six months before the Olympics. I'm going to retire, so now I’m just getting some first times,” said Uribe. “I haven't played on the Epson Tour that much, so it's nice to get a good finish and be in contention no matter what tour it is.
“I didn't think I would say that in my 15 years on Tour, I would have firsts in my last year. But it's my first year really playing on Epson, meeting new girls, playing with a lot of young girls, so I'm just enjoying every round. Every point counts for me in the rankings, so I just need to fight every day on the course. And we'll see what happens in June.”
As of March 25, 2024, Uribe is currently sitting outside of the top 60 in the Olympic Golf Ranking. Other Epson Tour players and alumna in the top 60 of the Olympic Golf Ranking as of March 25 include:
Name | Country | Epson Tour Affiliation | Current Rank |
---|---|---|---|
Nelly Korda | USA | 2016 Graduate | 1 |
Lilia Vu | USA | 2021 Graduate | 2 |
Celine Boutier | FRA | 2017 Graduate | 3 |
Hannah Green | AUS | 2017 Graduate | 17 |
Patty Tavatanakit | THA | 2019 Graduate | 19 |
Leona Maguire | IRL | 2019 Graduate | 23 |
Anne van Dam | NED | Alumna | 30 |
Perrine Delacour | FRA | 2019 Graduate | 32 |
Emily Kristine Pedersen | DEN | Alumna | 34 |
Peiyun Chien | TPE | 2016 Graduate | 35 |
Stephanie Meadow | IRL | 2018 Graduate | 36 |
Bianca Pagdanganan | PHI | Alumna | 37 |
Nanna Koerstz Madsen | FEN | 2017 Graduate | 38 |
Celine Borge | NOR | 2022 Graduate | 39 |
Diksha Dagar | IND | Current Member | 40 |
Klara Davidson Spilkova | CZE | Alumna | 42 |
Morgane Metraux | SUI | 2021 Graduate | 44 |
Paula Reto | RSA | Alumna | 45 |
Ashley Lau | MAS | Current Member | 51 |
Matilda Castren | FIN | Alumna | 52 |
Daniela Darquea | ECU | Alumna | 53 |
Maddie Szeryk | CAN | Current Member | 54 |
Natasha Andrea Oon | MAS | 2023 Graduate | 55 |
Dewi Weber | NFD | Current Member | 58 |