Each week the Epson Tour sees most of the same faces, as over 150 athletes compete in the Race for the Card, racking up as many points as possible in hopes it’ll be enough to get them to the LPGA Tour in 2025. But this week, four new faces, still in their amateur career, were invited to tee it up for experience on the big stage. Meet the four sponsor exemptions for the 2024 Copper Rock Championship:
Grace Williams
- Currently in her senior season at Utah Tech University
- From Gold Coast, Australia
- Finished third on the team in 2023 with a 77.76 stroke average
- Earned Academic All-WAC honors in 2022 and 2023
- Advanced to the match play semifinal round at the 2023 Women’s Utah State Amateur
“Being able to compete this week is unbelievably exciting, having the opportunity compete and test my game against the pros is something I have been looking forward to all year,” said Williams. “I believe that college golf in Utah has allowed my course management skill to evolve, as well just being able to play numerous different shots, especially when the weather changes so quickly out here in the desert! You really just need to be prepared for everything.”
Anais Guibal
- Currently in her junior season at Southern Utah University
- From Montpellier, France
- Won the Grand Prix de Nîmes Campagne in 2017
- Four tournament victories while in high school
- Shot a career low 68 at the 2023 Timpanogos Collegiate Invitational
Lila Galea’i
- Currently in her senior season at Brigham Young University
- From Orem, Utah
- T-1 at the 2021 Dick McGuire Invitational, shooting 10-under over 54-holes
- Won the 115th Utah Women’s State Amateur
- Won the 2021 Utah Women’s Four-Ball with partner Kareen Larson
- 2020 UJGA Player of the Year
- 2x Utah 4A Girls Golf State Champion
“It means a lot,” said Galea’i. “Being able to travel not so far away from home is always nice for me. Also, being an invite is definitely a blessing - not a lot of girls have an experience like this. So, for me, being able to really take in every bit of the moment is a must.”
Toa Yokoyama
- Currently in her junior season at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada
- From Tokyo, Japan
- Tied the third lowest round in program history, shooting a 6-under 66 at the 2023 MountainView Collegiate
- Finished third at the 2024 San Diego State Classic
- Won the 2021 GolfWeek Junior International
)
)
)
)
