LONGWOOD, Fla. — The seventh stop on the 2021 “Road to the LPGA” takes the Epson Tour to Alaqua Country Club in the Sunshine State for the eighth annual IOA Golf Classic presented by RP Funding from May 21-23.
“IOA has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the Epson Tour, year after year, coast to coast,” said Mike Nichols, the Chief Business Officer of LPGA Qualifying Tours. “We are excited to have them continue to grow with us on the ‘Road to the LPGA’ and look forward to the eighth playing of the IOA Golf Classic at Alaqua Country Club, where it all began.”
The 144-player field will compete for a total purse of $175,000 in a 54-hole stroke play format with a cut to the low 60 players and ties after 36 holes. The winner’s share for the event is $26,250.
“We are looking forward to hosting our second Epson Tour event of the 2021 season,” said Insurance Office of America (IOA) Chairman and CEO Heath Ritenour. “It is always amazing to see the future of women’s golf forming each year at our tournaments. We are grateful to have the opportunity to expand our brand while supporting the talented women competing on the ‘Road to the LPGA.’”
Defending champion Laura Wearn (Charlotte, North Carolina) is among the competitors in the field. She finished No. 7 in the 2020 Race for the Card with $41,222. The victory in central Florida was the third career title for Wearn and one of three top-15s last year.
“I have struggled at Alaqua Country Club in the past, so it was incredibly special to win last year and see a lot of my hard work pay off. This tournament was a huge confidence booster,” said Wearn. “I have so many great memories from here and am really looking forward to playing again this year.”
Action gets underway at 7:15 a.m. ET in the first and second rounds with play starting off Nos. 1 and 10 tees. The final round will begin at 8 a.m. ET and all groups will start on No. 1 tee with a trophy presentation to follow on the 18th green.
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