DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Epson Tour will return to North Carolina during the 2023 season, this time for the Champions Fore Change Invitational, a new tournament that celebrates the work of the tour and its partners in their commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
“The Epson Tour and its partners are continuously working to support the dreams of athletes around the world and provide the best opportunities to grow both their careers and the game of golf,” said Jody Brothers, the Epson Tour’s Chief Business and Operations Officer. “The Champions Fore Change Invitational is a great way to showcase the talent on the Road to the LPGA and celebrate the multitude of various nationalities represented on tour.”
Taberna Country Club in New Bern, North Carolina will host the event from May 29-June 4. The 18-hole championship course was crafted by Senior Nicklaus Designer, Jim Lipe and is nestled among rolling hills, and breathtaking, manicured greens.
“Taberna Country Club and our members are proud to be hosting the Epson Tour in June,” said Shannon Nunn, Taberna Country Club General Manager. “The professional young women that will be participating will bring inspiration for the youth and women in Eastern North Carolina to play this wonderful game. We look forward to an action-packed week here in New Bern, NC.”
The field will consist of 144 athletes, including Epson Tour members and special exemptions. The winner of the Mack Champ Invitational, a tournament for the game’s best junior golfers of diverse backgrounds, will be invited to compete on the big stage, as well as the winners of the National Women’s Collegiate Golf Championship and the PGA Works Collegiate Championship.
“The LPGA has the opportunity to become the leader in the Changing the Face of Golf cultural movement,” said the LPGA’s Senior Director of Community and Inclusion, Laura Diaz. “I see so much potential in diversifying women’s golf and creating a more equitable playing field. The pipeline of young women who will become the future of the LPGA is strong, and I know that through this work we will inspire more women and girls to see themselves as part of the Epson Tour.”
ABOUT THE EPSON TOUR
The Epson Tour is the official qualifying tour of the LPGA Tour and enters its 43rd competitive season in 2023. With the support of entitlement partner Seiko Epson Corporation, the Tour’s mission is to prepare the world’s best female professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour. In the last decade, the Epson Tour has grown from 15 tournaments and $1.6 million in prize money to $4.9 million awarded across 20+ events in 2023. With more than 600 graduates and alumnae moving on to the LPGA Tour, former Epson Tour players have won 437 LPGA titles.
Follow the Epson Tour at www.epsontour.com, as well as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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