It’s another record day for the newly-named Epson Tour. Shortly after landing a new title sponsor, the “Road to the LPGA” released its 2022 schedule, featuring the largest single-event prize in tour history as well as record-setting purse sizes for what was formerly known as the Symetra Tour.
The tour kicks off March 4-6 at Florida’s Natural Charity Classic in Winter Haven.
This year’s schedule includes 21 events across 13 states and $4.41 million in total prize money with an average purse size of $210,000. In 2013, the tour schedule featured 15 tournaments with an average of purse of $108,000. The highest purse was $150,000.
Five years ago, fewer than 1 in 5 tournaments were playing for a $200,000 purse.
“To see the Epson Tour continue to elevate since I graduated in 2016 is great for the game of golf,” said Ally Ewing, the newest Player Director on the LPGA Board. “I earned just over $110,000 when purse sizes averaged roughly $139,000, so a 50 percent growth over such a short span is both encouraging and essential to creating a financially viable path for these future LPGA Tour members.”
In August, the French Lick Resort Charity Championship will feature at $335,000 purse, the largest in tour history. The event will be contested on the Pete Dye Course, with the winner receiving $50,000. That’s more than P.K. Kongkraphan earned for the entire season in 2013 when she topped the money list at $47,283.
Three new events will be held in 2022: Ann Arbor’s Road to the LPGA in Ann Arbor, Mich. at Travis Pointe Country Club, Wildhorse Ladies Classic at Wildhorse Golf Course in Pendleton, Oregon and one to be announced at Ol’ Colony Golf Course in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Those who finish in the top 10 on the money list at season’s end receive not only LPGA membership, but also a chance to serve as an Epson Tour Ambassador, receiving $10,000 apiece to go toward competing at the next level.
“I thought it was incredible that a global brand like Epson was putting the money into the Tour, and not only just saying, ‘Here’s some money. Now you’re on the Tour, go on with your life.’ They are actually supporting us, supporting women’s golf,” said Fatima Fernandez Cano, an Epson Tour graduate in 2020 and 2021, and the first representative of the Epson Tour Ambassador Program.
“You graduate, you get the option for a sponsorship, that’s huge for any of us. Somebody like me, I’m new to the Tour. There’s many expenses, everything is new, and for them to support me not just through the Epson Tour but also on to the next level, that’s just huge.”
2022 Epson Tour Schedule
March 4-6: Florida’s Natural Charity Classic, Country Club of Winter Haven; Winter Haven, Florida, $200,000
March 17-20: Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic, Longbow Golf Club; Mesa, Arizona, $200,000
March 25-27: IOA Championship pres. by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon, Champions Course; Beaumont, Calif., $200,000
March 31-April 3: Casino Del Sol Golf Classic, Sewailo Golf Club; Tucson, Arizona, Sewailo Golf Club; Tucson, Arizona
April 21-23: Copper Rock Championship, Copper Rock Golf Course; Hurricane, Utah, $200,000
April 29-May 1: Garden City Charity Classic, Buffalo Dunes Golf Club; Garden City, Kansas, $200,000
May 20-22: IOA Golf Classic pres. by RP Funding, Alaqua Country Club; Longwood, Florida, $200,000
May 27-29: Inova Mission Inn Championship, Mission Inn Resort, El Campeon Golf Course; Howey-In-The-Hills, Florida, $200,000
June 8-12: Carolina Golf Classic pres. by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC, Kinston Country Club; Kinston, North Carolina, $200,000
June 16-18: Ann Arbor’s Road to the LPGA powered by the A2 Sports Commission, Travis Pointe Country Club; Ann Arbor, Michigan, $200,000
June 24-26: Island Resort Championship, Sweetgrass Golf Club; Harris, Michigan, $225,000
July 8-10: Twin Bridges Championship, Pinehaven Country Club; Guilderland, New York, $200,000
July 29-31: FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship, Battle Creek Country Club; Battle Creek, Michigan, $200,000
Aug. 4-7: French Lick Resort Charity Championship, The Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort; French Lick, Indiana, $335,000
Aug. 12-14: Four Winds Invitational, South Bend Country Club; South Bend, Indiana, $200,000
Aug. 26-28: Circling Raven Championship, Circling Raven Golf Club; Worley, Idaho, $200,000
Sept. 2-4: Wildhorse Ladies Classic, Wildhorse Golf Course; Pendleton, Oregon, $200,000
Sept. 16-18: Guardian Championship, RTJ Golf Trail at Capitol Hill, Senator Course; Prattville, Alabama, $200,000
Sept. 23-25: Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout, Mystic Creek Golf Club; El Dorado, Arkansas, $200,000
Sept. 29-Oct. 2: TBA, Ol’ Colony Golf Course; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, $200,000
Oct. 6-9: Epson Tour Championship, LPGA International, Jones Course; Daytona Beach, Florida, $250,000
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