Wildhorse Resort & Casino announced on Tuesday that it will host an Epson Tour event at Wildhorse Golf Course, Sept. 2-4, 2022.
Known as the “Road to the LPGA,” the Epson Tour is the official qualifying tour of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).
The Wildhorse Ladies Classic will be the 17th stop on the Epson Tour’s 2022 schedule, welcoming professional female golfers from all over the United States and more than 40 countries around the world.
The Epson Tour enters its 42nd competitive season in 2022 and annually awards the top 10 players on the season-long “Race for the Card” money list with LPGA Tour membership for the following season. Recent Epson Tour graduates include Olympic Gold Medalist and top-ranked American, Nelly Korda, as well as fellow major champions, Hannah Green and Patty Tavatanakit. Last month, the Epson Tour unveiled its 2022 schedule featuring record-setting total purses and average purse size, as well as the largest single-event prize in Tour history.
“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,” CEO Gary George announced.
Wildhorse has committed to host the tournament for at least two years, bringing around 2000 visitors to the area for each yearly event. Event staff and volunteers, as well as professional and amateur players, will begin pouring into Pendleton days before tournament week.
The main event is preceded by two Pro-Am tournaments beginning Aug. 31. This is when amateur golfers get to team up with professionals from the Epson Tour to compete in a scramble. The Pro-Am will also be held at Wildhorse Golf Course.
The first and second rounds for the professional women are played Sept. 2-3 with the final round taking place on Sunday, Sept. 4.
When asked why Wildhorse joined the Epson Tour, George explained, “This event aligns with the Tribes’ efforts to provide meaningful opportunities for Tribal youth and to grow the game of golf in our region.”
The Epson Tour is hosted by other Tribal venues throughout the season including Circling Raven Golf Club in Idaho and Morongo Golf Club in California. The tournaments often feature events for young golfers who are interested in pursuing the game and many of the LPGA’s best players have come up through the LPGA USGA Girls Golf program.
The Wildhorse Ladies 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, act as marshals and spotters, help VIPs and vendors, provide housing for Epson Tour competitors, and much more. Interested volunteers can visit the Wildhorse website for information and to register.
The Epson Tour Championship to conclude the 2022 season takes place in Daytona Beach, Fla., in October.
