WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — The second stop on the 2019 “Road to the LPGA” takes the Epson Tour to the Country Club of Winter Haven for the 11th annual Florida’s Natural Charity Classic from March 15-17.
“Florida’s Natural has been the biggest charitable contributor of any title sponsor we have on the Epson Tour and their good deeds extend far beyond the course,” said Mike Nichols, the Chief Business Officer of the Epson Tour. “It has been amazing to see this event grow in such dramatic fashion and continue to play an important role in the growth of our players, but also the community it serves.”
Greeting the 132-player field in Winter Haven, Fla. is a total purse of $125,000. Individuals are set to compete in a 54-hole stroke play format with a cut to the low 60 players and ties after 36 holes.
“On behalf of the Florida’s Natural Growers Foundation, we are pleased to partner with the Epson Tour for over a decade,” said Nikki Hayde, President of the Florida’s Natural Growers Foundation. “Our organization has been able to support the Central Florida communities with more than $1.8 million dollars in grants, largely from the support of the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic. As we grow and add to the week’s events each year, we appreciate the Tour and everyone involved that always make this tournament a success.”
Defending champion Lauren Kim (Los Altos, California) is among the competitors, as she made seven starts on the Epson Tour in 2018 and played the weekend each time. Kim was also in the field for 14 tournaments on the LPGA Tour last year and finished tied for 23rd at the inaugural LPGA Q-Series to earn Priority List Category 14 status for the 2019 season.
“Winning—especially by shooting 9-under par on the last day—was exciting and special because I learned a lot about myself that week,” Kim said. “It gave me the confidence to play the rest of the season on the LPGA Tour. I’m looking forward to defending my title this year and am grateful to Florida’s Natural and the Epson Tour for teaching me how to win.”
Action gets underway at 8 a.m. ET all three days, with groups going off No. 1 and No. 10 tee in rounds one and two. Meanwhile, the final round will feature twosomes all from No. 1 tee.
)
)
)
)
