Wildhorse Resort to host ‘Road to the LPGA’ tournament
Wildhorse Resort & Casino will host the Epson Tour at the Wildhorse Golf Course on August 14-20. 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 the inaugural event in 2022 with youth clinics, Pro-Am tournaments and the professional women’s tournament, which occurs the final three days of the event.
“We’re very happy to have the event take place two weeks earlier this year,” said Wildhorse CEO Gary George. “This schedule works much better for the kids taking part in the youth clinics, so we expect an even bigger turnout.”
The young golfers are a primary reason this event takes place, according to George, as it aligns with efforts by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation to provide meaningful opportunities for Tribal youth.
Players who visited Eastern Oregon to compete last year and advanced to the LPGA Tour include Xiaowen Yin, Kiira Riihijarvi, Grace Kim, Celine Borge, Gabriella Then, Gina Kim, Yan Liu, and Hyo Joon Jang. Grace Kim tied for third in the 2022 Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic and is pegged as an “LPGA rookie to watch” in 2023 by Golfweek, as are Yin and Jang.
The winner of last year’s Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic, Daniela Iacobelli, did not advance to the LPGA Tour and said she plans to return to Wildhorse this year to defend her title.
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, and much more. Click here for information and to register as a volunteer.
About Wildhorse Resort & Casino
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.
