Heather Lin did more than just win a 72-hole golf tournament Sunday at the Indian Wells Golf Resort. Lin also earned herself a playing exemption for the 2025 LPGA season.
Lin, from Taipei, birdied the par-5 17th hole and then routinely two-putted the par-3 18th to earn a one-shot win at the 2024 Epson Tour Championship at the Players Course at the golf resort. In addition to the $43,125 first-place check, Lin earned 650 points in the season-long Race for the Card, pushing her to the 15th and final LPGA exemption.
In the first Epson Tour Championship play played in California, the tournament was dominated by talk of the record triple-digit heat in the desert, with temperatures hovering over 110 degrees for all four days of the event.
“It was hot. I’m from Houston though, so I am used to the heat,” said Lauren Stephenson, who finished eighth in the tournament but won the season-long points race to return to the LPGA Tour. “That was manageable, but it was definitely something to think about. Every hole, stay hydrated, getting a lot of salt, sticking with the eating. I think it was more of a conscious effort than the golf at some points.”
Five had clinched before the week started
Stephenson was one of five players to have clinched an LPGA berth for next season before play began in Indian Wells. With her eight-place finish at 12-under 272, four shots behind Lin, Stephenson secured the No. 1 spot over 18-year-old Yahui Zhang of China. Stephenson was the player of the year for the tour, while Zhang was the rookie of the year.
Stephenson, who joined the LPGA in 2019 and who played 18 tournaments on the LPGA as recently as 2023, admitted she was able to approach the week a bit differently than players still fighting for an LPGA berth.
“I was just in a very fortunate spot, not being stressed,” said the 27-year-old Stephenson. “This week was definitely a blessing. I know a lot of girls and a lot of my friends who had a lot of anxiety coming into this week, because there is a lot of pressure. I was just happy to not have that. Being able to play free and enjoy my last tournament of the season was more than I could ask for.”
Stephenson, who shot 4-under 67 on Sunday, was one of 19 different players to win on the 19-event tour this year. That list now includes Lin, who played her college golf at Oregon. Lin started the week 39th in the points chase but opened with rounds of 67, 63 and 71 to put herself in the final group Sunday.
Lin and Ashley Lau of Malaysia found themselves tied down the stretch at 15 under after breaking loose from a large group at 14 under. Lau birdied the 13th, 14th and 15th holes but parred her last three holes to finish with a 66. Lin, playing behind Lau, made a birdie on the par-5 17th hole, then hit the green on the par-3 closing hole and two putted from 30 feet for a 67 and her first victory as a professional.
The 650 points were enough to push Lin to 15th on the points list, knocking out LPGA veteran Kim Kauffman.
“That’s definitely a dream come true. I mean, honestly, coming into this week, I was just trying to get out of stage two (of qualifying) because with where my ranking is at and, you know, I knew I had a chance,” said Lin. “I was in contention. And I mean, I don’t even know if winning was good enough to get it, the 15th card. But, you know, everything worked out perfectly.”
While 15 players earned LPGA cards Sunday, there is a difference in those cards. The top 10 players are exempt in Category 9 of the LPGA priority list for next year, while players 11 through 15 are in Category 15, a lower exempt status.
