- Eight countries are represented: U.S., Canada, Mexico, South Korea, China, Sweden, Australia and Norway.
- The leading money winner, Giulia Molinaro of Italy, hasn’t won but has nine finishes of sixth or better in 17 starts this season. Lee Lopez (third, eight top-10 finishes) and Casey Grice (eighth, nine top-10 finishes) are the only other players in the top 10 who haven’t won this season.
- There are three multiple winners: Jimin Kang (two wins) Annie Park (three wins) and Vicky Hurst (two wins).
- Two players have locked up their 2016 LPGA cards via a secure finish in the top 10 on the money list: Molinaro and Park.
- Only $5,162 separates No. 5 Daniela Iacobelli ($57,476) from No. 10 Rachel Rohanna ($52,314) on the money list.
- Only seven of this season’s winners are currently ranked in the top 10.
A look at the winners:
Player | Country | Win | Score | Etc. |
Hannah O’Sullivan | U.S. | Gateway Classic | -15 | Amateur won the U.S. Women’s Amateur this summer |
Katie Kempter | U.S. | Volvik Championship | -5 | 22nd on money list this week |
Sue Kim | Canada | Florida’s Natural Charity Classic | -5 | Played mostly on LPGA this season |
Augusta James | Canada | Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial | -10 | Ninth on money list this week |
Rachel Rohanna | U.S. | Guardian Retirement Championship at Sara Bay | -5 | 10th on money list this week |
Alejandra Llaneza | Mexico | Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women's Health Classic | -10 | Sixth on money list this week |
Jimin Kang | South Korea | Mission Health Wellness Classic / Decatur | -15 | Former LPGA winner 12th on money list this week |
Haruka Morita-Wanyaolu | China | Epson Classic | -12 | 11th on money list this week |
Madeleine Sheils | U.S. | FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship | -10 | 17th on money list this week |
Jimin Kang | South Korea | Decatur-Forsyth Classic | Declared the unofficial winner of shortened event | |
Brooke Henderson | Canada | Four Winds Invitational | -10 | Won on the LPGA this season |
Dani Holmqvist | Sweden | Island Resort Championship | -10 | Fourth on money list this week |
Daniela Iacobelli | U.S. | Tullymore Classic | -16 | Fifth on the money list this week |
Annie Park | U.S. | Toyota Danielle Downey Classic | -16 | First of three wins on the season |
Breanna Elliott | Australia | Fuccillo Kia Championship at capital Hill | -13 | 32nd on the money list this week |
Annie Park | U.S. | PHC Classic | -5 | Won again in sixth start of season |
Vicky Hurst | U.S. | WB Mason Championship | -13 | Coming back from wrist injury to win on Syemtra Tour |
Caroline Westrup | Norway | Sioux Falls GreatLife Challenge | -12 | 15th on money list this week |
Annie Park | U.S. | Prairie Band Casino & Resort | -13 | Secured 2016 LPGA card with third win |
Vicky Hurst | U.S. | Garden City Championship | -8 | Second win of 2015 season |
Jackie Stoelting | U.S. | Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout | -3 | First career Epson Tour victory |
Welcome back to Florida
After playing three consecutive weeks in Florida during the early stages of the 2015 Epson Tour season, the tour returns to the Sunshine State this week and next to conclude the year. This week, the Epson Tour is central Florida at Longwood, Fla., and Alaqua Country Club for the 54-hole IOA Golf Classic and then moves about an hour northeast up Interstate 4 to Daytona Beach, Fla., for the finale, the 72-hole Epson Tour Championship at LPGA International’s Jones Course in the shadow of LPGA Headquarters.
Alaqua is a 1988 Gary Player design noted for its elevated tees. Last year, the event was played in late March and Kendall Dye tied the course record with a final-round 65 to win her first Epson Tour title.
Comparing statistics
Here’s a quick look at top statistical category leaders on the Epson Tour and LPGA:
Statistic | Epson | LPGA |
Greens in Regulation | 75.9%, Annie Park | 77.2%, Lydia Ko |
Scoring | 69.84, Annie Park | 69.44, Inbee Park |
Driving Accuracy | 89.6%, Augusta James | 89%, Mo Martin |
Putting | 29, Chie Arimura | 28.5, Julie Yang |
Driving Distance | 273.69, Maude-Aimee Leblanc | 274.42, Joanna Klatten |
Race for No. 1 spot
It’s a battle right now between Giulia Molinaro’s year-long consistency and Annie Park’s surge since July in the race for the Epson Tour Player of the Year honor. Molinaro has a slight lead in the competition, based upon earnings, and is in the field this week. Park is not entered.
Park is aiming to become only the sixth player – and the first since 2009 – to win both the Player of the Year and Gaelle Truett Rookie of the Year award. She leads the rookie standings by more than $14,000 over second-place Augusta James. Previous double winners include: Beth Bauer, 2001; Lorena Ochoa, 2002; Song-Hee Kim, 2006; Vicky Hurst, 2008; and Mina Harigae, 2009.
A comparison between Molinaro and Park:
Statistic | Molinaro (rank) | Park (rank) |
Earnings | $67,895 (1) | $66,684 (2) |
Wins | 0 (NA) | 3 (1) |
Top-10s | 9 (T1) | 4 (T14) |
Starts | 17 | 10 |
Scoring | 71.03 (2) | 69.84 (1) |