Garden City Charity Classic Past Champs: Where Are They Now?

The Garden City Charity Classic at Buffalo Dunes is one of the longest-running events on the Epson Tour, but it also has a strong list of champions. Of the nine champions, there has been one major winner, a Solheim Cup participant, and three current LPGA Tour members:

GABRIELLA THEN (2022)

Gabriella Then finished in the top 10 of the 2022 Epson Tour Race for the Card after securing her first Epson Tour victory in Garden City early last year. After the win, the 27-year-old recorded five top-15 finishes to round out the 2022 season. Then has since played in five events on the LPGA Tour in 2023, securing a top-20 at the LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei. The LPGA Tour rookie currently sits at No. 98 on the LPGA Tour Points List, which would guarantee her a spot on Tour for 2024 if she stays can stay inside the top 100.

LILIA VU (2021)

Lilia Vu is on her second stint with the LPGA Tour. Vu qualified for the LPGA Tour at LPGA Q-School in 2018 at 20 before returning to the Epson Tour in 2021. During her 2021 season on the Epson Tour, the former University of California Los Angeles Bruin won three times, including her win in Garden City. In the 18 events she played in 2021, Vu was able to make $162,292 and finish first on the Race for the Card money list and earning Player of the Year honors. During the 2022 season, Vu found her footing playing on the LPGA Tour. Of the 24 events she played, the now 24-year-old made the cut in 21 events securing eight top-10s. In 2023, the former Garden City Charity Classic Champion has won twice, one of which was the first major of the year at The Chevron Championship. After battling back to the LPGA Tour, Vu currently sits at No.4 in the Rolex World Golf Rankings and is now representing the United States at the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown in San Francisco.

DANA FALL (2016)

Dana Fall is also on her second stint with the LPGA Tour. After winning in Garden City in 2016, Fall would play on the LPGA Tour in 2017 before losing her Card and joining the Epson Tour again in 2018. During the 2018 season, the Arizona native could not secure her second Epson Tour victory but had six top-10 finishes and two runner-up finishes which were good enough to finish in the top 10 in the Race for the Card. Since rejoining the LPGA Tour in 2019, Fall has yet to win but is enjoying a successful career and will be playing in her fifth straight LPGA Tour season in 2023.