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Jul 12, 2024

Wildhorse Resort to host ‘Road to the LPGA’ tournament

Wildhorse Resort & Casino will host the Epson Tour at the Wildhorse Golf Course

August 12-18.  Known as the “Road to the LPGA,” the Epson Tour is the official qualifying tour of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).

The seven-day affair will be similar to last year’s event with youth clinics, Pro-Am tournaments and the professional women’s tournament, which occurs the final three days of the event.

“Wildhorse Resort & Casino and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation are excited to showcase and welcome some of the most talented young professional golfers from around the world to our tribal and local communities in the Northwest,” said Wildhorse CEO Gary George. “More importantly, this event aligns with the tribes’ efforts to provide meaningful opportunities for local and tribal youth and grow the game in our region.”

Founded in 1999 as the LPGA Futures Tour, the Epson Tour is the official developmental golf tour of the LPGA, where players can earn LPGA Tour membership through the “Race for the Card.” More than 300 players have gone on to play in the LPGA, including Epson Tour Players of the Year Gabriela Ruffels, Linnea Strom, Lilia Vu, Ana Belac, and Perrine Delacour.

Ellie Slama of Salem, Ore. was named the 2019 PNGA Women’s Player of the Year, and now competes on the Epson Tour.

For the first time, in 2024, 15 of the top golfers will receive LPGA Tour cards for earning the most points on the 20-event tour. Current Epson Tour leaders include Fiona Xu (Australia), Cassie Porter (Australia), Kim Kaufman (U.S.), Madison Young (U.S.), and Yahui Zhang (China). The winner of the 2024 Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic earns 500 points in the “Race for the Card.”

The winner of last year’s Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic was Xiaowen Yin.

Admired for its impeccably maintained fairways and challenging greens, Wildhorse Golf Course has played host to many local and regional amateur and professional tournaments.

The Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic will be seeking about 150 volunteers to help with a multitude of tasks during the event. Volunteers will assist with live scoring, help with parking and ticket distribution, serve as marshals and spotters, help VIPs and vendors, provide housing for Epson Tour competitors, and much more.

Visit wildhorseresort.com for ticket information and to register as a volunteer.

Centrally situated between Boise, Spokane and Portland, Wildhorse Resort & Casino is a popular destination resort with entertainment for the entire family. Amenities include an 18-hole golf course, 300 hotel rooms, slots, table games, movie theatres, bowling, arcade, a variety of restaurants, an RV park, and more. Wildhorse is owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, a union of three tribes – Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla – which consist of over 3,100 tribal members, with the Umatilla Indian Reservation covering about 172,000 acres. Visit wildhorseresort.com for more information.