INDIAN WELLS, Calif — The first round of the Epson Tour Championship at Indian Wells is complete, and Hailee Cooper and Clariss Guce are currently tied for the lead at 7-under overall after opening with 64s on Thursday in the desert.

Four players are in a tie for third at 5-under, including University of Alabama alum Lauren Stephenson, who is one of five athletes who have already mathematically clinched their LPGA Tour cards for the 2025 season. The other four athletes who have also earned LPGA Tour status for next year are Yahui Zhang, Jessica Porvasnik, Fatima Fernandez Cano and Brooke Matthews.

For the first time, 15 LPGA Tour cards will be awarded to the athletes who finish in the top 15 of the Race for the Card at the conclusion of the Epson Tour Championship. Ten cards are still up for grabs this week at Indian Wells Golf Resort, but there are other concessions still on the line with three rounds to play in California.

Athletes who finish 11 to 35 in the Race for the Card will earn free entry into LPGA Final Qualifying, an expense that will be paid for by Seiko Epson Corporation. Additionally, athletes who finish 11 to 80 in the season-long points race will earn full Epson Tour status for the 2025 season.

Take a look at where the top 35 players in the Race for the Card stand through 18 holes at the Epson Tour Championship at Indian Wells:

Lauren Stephenson* – (-5, T3)
Yahui Zhang* – (-4, T7)
Jessica Porvasnik* – (E, T51)
Fatima Fernandez Cano* – (-3, T12)
Brooke Matthews* – (+2, T75)
Fiona Xu – (+2, T75)
Jenny Bae – (E, T51)
Ingrid Lindblad – (-4, T7)
Ana Belac – (E, T51)
Daniela Iacobelli – (+1, T61)
Cassie Porter – (-1, T37)
Madison Young – (-2, T27)
Pornanong Phatlum – (-3, T12)
Kim Kaufman – (+3, T92)
Valery Plata – (-2, T27)
Amanda Doherty – (-1, T37)
Mariel Galdiano – (-1, T37)
Saki Baba – (-2, T27)
Kaleigh Telfer – (+4, T101)
Juliana Hung – (E, T51)
Briana Chacon – (+4, T101)
Soo Bin Joo – (-3, T12)
Miranda Wang – (-1, T37)
Dana Fall – (+2, T75)
Lindsey McCurdy – (-1, T37)
Amelia Lewis – (-3, T12)
Savannah Vilaubi – (-1, T37)
Kumkang Park – (-3, T12)
Dewi Weber – (+2, T75)
Jessica Peng – (-4, T7)
Amy Lee – (-2, T27)
Kate Smith-Stroh – (-3, T12)
Michelle Zhang – (-1, T37)
Hailee Cooper – (-7, T1)
Kathleen Scavo – (+1, T61)

*Mathematically clinched

Round 1 Race for the Card Update: 2024 Epson Tour Championship at Indian Wells

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