The Epson Tour is gearing up for the final stretch of tournaments, leading up to the conclusion of the 2024 season in Indian Wells, Cali. The Official Qualifying Tour of the LPGA is making a stop in the Midwest for one event, before heading down South for the remaining three events of the swing. These four tournaments, spread across three states, are not just any events-they are the most crucial ones of the season. Why? Because they will determine the players' status on the LPGA Tour and Epson Tour in the highly anticipated 2025 season.
Four Winds Invitational | South Bend, Indiana | August 30-September 1
- Course: South Bend Country Club
- Purse: $262,500
- Winner Check: $39,375
The Four Winds Invitational is the last event in the Midwest for the 2024 season. It is also where Gabriela Ruffels picked up her third win of the season in 2023 and secured her LPGA Tour card. This year, several players will enter the week looking for their second win and the possibility of clinching a LPGA Tour card for the 2025 season. The Four Winds Invitational boasts a number of impressive champions, with Lilia Vu and Brooke M. Henderson taking home the trophy in South Bend in 2021 and 2015, respectively.
Guardian Championship | Prattville, Alabama | September 6-8
- Course: Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Capitol Hill – Senator Course
- Purse: $262,500
- Winner Check: $39,375
The Guardian Championship saw Cydney Clanton lift the trophy in 2023, who went to school in the state at Auburn University and also set the 54-hole scoring record for the event. Clanton plans to defend her title at the upcoming Guardian Championship and improve her standing in the Race for the Card rankings. The Guardian Championship takes place at the Senator Course at RTJ Golf Trail at Capitol Hill, one of three top-tier public courses available on-site.
Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | September 13-15
- Course: Ol’ Colony Golf Course
- Purse: $237,500
- Winner Check: $35,625
The Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic, now in its third year, is second event in the Cotton State. The previous two champions of this event are currently playing on the LPGA Tour, a clear indication of the challenge posed by the Ol’ Colony Golf Course. This course, which is also the home of the University of Alabama Men’s and Women’s golf team, is set to welcome back a number of Crimson Tide alumnae, including the 2024 Epson Tour champion Lauren Stephenson.
Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout | El Dorado, Arkansas | September 20-22
- Course: Mystic Creek Golf Club
- Purse: $337,500
- Winner Check: $50,625
The Murphy USA El Dorado Championship is the final event before the Epson Tour Championship. It offers the second-largest prize money of the season, second only to the Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic. Mystic Creek Golf Club is ranked as the No. 1 course in Arkansas by Golf Week, creating an exciting setting for this penultimate event. The tournament is a true test of all aspects of the game, as the winning score has been double digits under par only three times in eight tournaments.
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