Before the start of the Epson Tour Championship, nine players had already wrapped up LPGA status for 2027. But for many of them, the question remained – what kind of status?
The top-15 players in the Race for the Card standings at season's end earned status for next year, but there's a significant difference between those who finished in the top 10 and those ranked 11-15 in terms of number of LPGA starts.
Those who finished in the top 10 earned Category 9 status on the LPGA priority list, while those finishing 11th-15th earn Category 16. Among the categories listed in between Nos. 9 and 16 are: members finishing Nos. 81-100 on the previous season points list; the current season reshuffle; and the top 25 from Q-Series.
In other words, those who
finished outside the top 10 will likely want to go to Q-Series anyway to try and improve their status.
Haylee Harford Sanchez held the 15th spot coming into the last event but dropped to 16th after a rough 76 in the final round. Kate Smith-Stroh dropped three spots down to 17th after a T-59 at Indian Wells.
Here's a look at how things shook out this week in the California desert, with Epson Tour Championship winner Reagan Zibilski leap-frogging dozens of players with a career day:
Mirabel Ting
The 20-year-old Malaysian turned pro last year at the Amundi Evian after winning the 2025 Annika Award as the nation's top collegiate player while at Florida State. She won twice on the Epson Tour this season and finished solo second, one stroke back, at the season finale.
Lauren Olivares
Mexico's Olivares posted 12 top 10s in 19 starts, including a win at the Great Lakes Championship at the Highlands in June. Led the tour in birdies.
Kaleiya Romero
In 19 starts this season, Kaleiya has 10 top-10 finishes and one victory at the Island Resort Championship. At 24, the former Pepperdine grad and Oregon assistant coach is the elder sister of Kiara Romero and will join her sister on the tour next season.
Annabelle Pancake-Webb
Second-year Epson player notched her first victory at the Greater Toledo Classic. Added two more runner-up showings to cruise to her card. The Indiana native and Clemson grad will be a rookie on the LPGA.
Carla Bernat Escuder
The 2025 Augusta National Women's Amateur champion was a rookie on the Epson Tour this season and won her first title last month at the Guardian Championship. The Spaniard added four more top-5 finishes on the season to sail through to the LPGA.
Cholcheva Wongras
Thai player was a rookie on the Epson Tour this season. Won the Thai LPGA Tour Order of Merit in 2024 and 2025, and the WPGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit in 2025. The 22-year-old's victory at the 2026 Reliance Matrix Championship set the tour's 72-hole scoring record at at 26-under 262.
Liqi Zeng
The 20-year-old from China posted four top-4 finishes this season to earn her way back to the LPGA. First earned her card at the 2023 Q-School at age 17.
Amari Avery
Former USC player turned pro in 2024. Won her first Epson Tour title at the 2026 IOA Championship, making her the third Black winner on the developmental tour. Came into the season-ender eighth on the Race for the Card list and held strong with a T-5.
Mariel Galdiano
The 28-year-old didn't win this season but posted four top-3 finishes in 16 starts to finish ninth in the Race for the Card. Ranked second on tour in putting.
Reagan Zibilski
One week after the former Arkansas player teed it up in her first LPGA event at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship and tied for 56th, Zibilski had the round of her life in the Tour Championship. The closing 62 secured LPGA status for 2027, moving up 27 spots in the Race for the Card standings to 10th.
Rachel Kuehn
Former Wake Forest grad joined the Epson Tour in 2025. Came into the Tour Championship 10th place in the Race for the Card standings but lost valuable ground when Zibilski went crazy low in the final round to vault up the list. Kuehn finished 11th in the card race.
Megha Ganne
Former Stanford star and the 2025 U.S. Women's Amateur champion finished 12th in the card standings after a T-18 in the desert. Ganne won in her seventh start on the Epson Tour and notched four top 10s in 11 starts.
Lauryn Nguyen
Epson Tour rookie won her first title last June at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship. Helped Northwestern to the program's first NCAA title. Finished 13th in the card race.
Megan Schofill
Former U.S. Women's Amateur champion took a share of 21st to hold on to the 14th spot in the Race for the Card standings. The 25-year-old Auburn grad earned her first Epson Tour victory early in the season at the Carlisle Arizona Women's Golf Classic.
Samantha Wagner
The 29-year-old Wagner regains her LPGA card after another full season on the qualifying tour. A rookie on the Epson Tour in 2018, Wagner closed with a 65 at the Tour Championship to jump up one spot and into the top 15.
Beth Ann Nichols is a senior writer for Golfweek covering the LPGA and all things women's golf. Follow her on X/Twitter (@GolfweekNichols).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Meet the 15 Epson Tour players who earned LPGA cards for 2027
