Seven storylines to watch this season on the Epson Tour, including Haley Moore’s comeback

Gabriela Ruffels of Australia watches reads a putt on the 15th green during round one of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give at Blythefield Country Club on June 17, 202, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Certainly the most well-known rookie at the Country Club of Winter Haven, Gabriela Ruffels plans to play a full season on the Epson Tour. The former U.S. Women’s Amateur champion and USC star already has three top-20 finishes in LPGA majors under her belt. She missed advancing out of the second stage of Q-School by one stroke.

“I’m excited to have a set schedule and be able to aim toward something,” said Ruffels, who left college a semester early to play on sponsor exemptions in 2021.

Ole Miss golfer Kennedy Swann tees off on the 11th during the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Kennedy Swann finished her career at Ole Miss with a dream come true – a team NCAA Championship title. After the second stage of Q-School, Swann moved to Oregon to refresh and gear up for her next chapter on the Epson Tour. Swann will carry her own bag this week in Florida as she gets her feet wet.

“I think a lot of girls make the mistake, they’re so eager to get their LPGA Tour card, that they go out there and are overwhelmed and they end up losing it,” said Swann. “Then they’re coming back to Epson and they’re like ‘What do I do now?’ But for me, I want to be 100 percent confident that when I get my LPGA Tour card, I’m ready and I’ve earned it.

“I think graduating in the top-10 from the Epson Tour or earning my way into Q-Series is the best way to do it.”

Arizona State Sun Devils golfer Olivia Mehaffey chips on the tenth green during the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

While not in the field this week in Winter Haven, Oliva Mehaffey will be one to follow at the tour’s second stop – the Carlisle Arizona Women’s Classic. The Arizona State grad will need to play well there to reshuffle and secure plenty of starts going forward. Otherwise, she’ll have to rely on sponsor exemptions for the immediate future.

Mehaffey finished T-6 at the Carlisle last year as an amateur.

Haley Moore tees off on the 10th hole during the second round of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship at Pinnacle Country Club on September 25, 2021 in Rogers, Arkansas. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images)

Haley Moore went straight from college, where she sank the winning putt to help Arizona win the NCAA title, to the LPGA after earning her card via Q-Series. Because she was a rookie in 2020, Moore actually competed in two rookie seasons as the COVID-19 pandemic froze her status til 2021.

Last year, Moore competed in 16 events and made the cut in five. She finished 142nd on the CME points list by season’s end and failed to earn her card back at Q-Series. Moore comes into the Epson season fresh off of back-to-back wins on the Cactus Tour.

Amateur Amelia Garvey of New Zealand reacts after a putt on the 11th green during the second round of the 76th U.S. Women’s Open Championship at The Olympic Club on June 04, 2021, in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The powerful and fast-swinging Amelia Garvey finished USC as a three-time All-American. With swing speeds up to 111 mph, this Kiwi is a treat to watch and listen to. The affable Garvey spent time among the top 30 players in the world as an amateur.

Beth Wu (courtesy Epson Tour/Ben Harpring)

Former UCLA player finished 11th on the Epson Tour money list last season, putting her one place shy of an LPGA card. A rookie on the tour in 2020, Wu notched two runner-up showings in 2021, making 11 cuts in 15 starts.

Wu came up $4,429 short of 10th place.

Meghan MacLaren of England tees off on the 13th hole during the first round of The Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik and Annika at Vallda Golf & Country Club on June 10, 2021 in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)

Meghan MacLaren has developed one of the most important voices in the game through her blogging and column-writing. The English player spent last season on the Epson Tour, winning the Prasco Charity Championship and finishing 18th on the money list. MacLaren, a 27-year-old FIU grad, missed qualifying for her LPGA card by three strokes at Q-Series after a closing 75.

She also has two victories on the Ladies European Tour.