Heather Lin LPGA bound after first pro win — Epson Tour Class of ’24

The Epson Tour Class of 2024 was just announced following the 2024 Epson Tour Championship, but some of those grads had more work to do than others to get their LPGA Tour cards.

Heather Lin was one of those graduates, just sneaking inside the top 15 with her win at the 2024 Epson Tour Championship in Indian Wells, Calif. The 24-year-old from Hsinchu City, Taiwan ended the season with 972.467 Race for the Card points, enough to clinch her tour card. This win was of the utmost importance.

The last few spots in the Race for the Card standings were tight, so for players just on the cusp, one tournament could make or break their chances of debuting on the LPGA Tour in the 2025 season. Lin felt that pressure.

“I mean, honestly, coming into this week, I was just trying to get out of stage two because with where my ranking is at, and I knew I had a chance,” Lin said. “I was in contention.”

On Day 1, Lin had a solid start, firing a 4-under 67 to kick off the tournament. But in round 2, Lin set the 18-hole tournament scoring record at Indian Wells with an 8-under 63, also her career lowest score.

Lin’s final round 67 was good enough to win by one stroke over Ashley Lau and set the 72-hole tournament scoring record at Indian Wells with a 16-under total of 268.

That solid final round was nothing shiny, but it was a battle down to the last hole. After coming off a 3-under 32 on her front nine, her second best front nine score of the tournament, Lin made double bogey on the par-4 10th hole. Immediately, adversity was to be faced through the rest of the back nine.

“I was actually super nervous,” Lin said about coming down the back nine stretch on Sunday’s final round. But what was most important was how she dealt with these nerves. She credited her coach for helping her cope with that reality check.

“But my coach yesterday was prepared for me. He was like, ‘You’re going to be very, very nervous,’” Lin said. “’Just be prepared about that. And then just deep breath. Try not to like fight it instead of like accepting it.’”

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Channeling those nerves and accepting the truth turned out to be the perfect strategy for Lin to get her game flowing again. Bouncing back with a par and two birdies in a row on holes 11, 12 and 13 put Lin back in a position to fight for the lead. A string of pars and then a birdie on No. 17 set Lin up to retain the win with a two-putt on No. 18.

“I can still feel the nerves in my hands a little bit right now,” Lin said. “But knowing the leaderboard right there, I know I need to make this two-putt to win the tournament. Yeah, it was just all the practice.”

She used that technical practice, and she used her adrenaline in the moment. Physical and mental golf games came together in beautiful harmony (and victory).

It’s incredible how Lin rose to the occasion, especially after opening the back nine of the final round of the most important tournament of her career thus far with a double. Mentally, that is pure strength. To put that one bad hole past you is not easy to do when a final LPGA card could be on the line. Those deep breaths really do make a difference.

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Five at The IX: A brief profile of the top 5 2024 Epson Tour graduates

The conclusion of the 2024 Epson Tour Championship in Indian Wells, Calif. can only mean one thing: a new group of Epson Tour graduates. The 15 LPGA-bound athletes earned their tour cards through the Race for the Card rankings, and it’s one talented group. Here’s what each of the top five athletes in the race had to say about earning their LPGA cards.

No. 5, Brooke Matthews

Age: 26

Hometown: Rogers, Arkansas

Collegiate golf: University of Arkansas

Race for the Card points: 1,312.695

“Yeah, I’m really excited. I can’t believe the season’s over. I was in a good position for a while for the last five or six tournaments, but I just feel like that finish line was never going to get there. And then being announced around last week and kind of having one last Epson event this week, it’s been great. I’m really excited. I’m really proud of my season and got all these girls out here. It’s been a great year.”

No. 4, Jessica Porvasnik

Age: 29

Hometown: Hinckley, Ohio

Collegiate golf: Ohio State University

Race for the Card points: 1,438.152

“I’m excited. It means a lot. I worked really hard, and I’m just looking forward to it. It’s a new chapter, and it’s kind of a dream come true.”

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No. 3, Fatima Fernandez Cano

Age: 28

Hometown: Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Collegiate golf: Troy University

Race for the Card points: 1,455.309

“It’s been a roller coaster the last couple of years. I was out there two years ago. I did not have the greatest time just because my game wasn’t there. I was just, I was not there. So knowing what I know now, it’s really great to go back, learning what I’ve learned and just going back. I’m the same player in a way, but I’m also a little bit better.”

No. 2, Yahui Zhang

Age: 18

Hometown: Wuhan Hubei, People’s Republic of China

Youngest ever winner on CLPGA Tour (15 years old)

Race for the Card points: 1,533.966

“I’m pretty excited because it means a lot to me. Like when I go back to China and I can tell my coach that—I got LPGA card! Thank you so much! And they will be happy for me. And also, I’m 18 years old, so I got a lot of time. But still pretty, big excited.”

No. 1, Lauren Stephenson

Age: 27

Hometown: Lexington, South Carolina

Collegiate golf: Clemson University, University of Alabama

Race for the Card points: 1,732.216

“I’m just excited to be out there and play again. I know that I can compete, and I know I’m good enough, so just kind of feeling like I will have my best foot forward next year and really just enjoy it. I mean, it’s my seventh season, so kind of a veteran, I guess, at this point, but I’m not going to do it too much longer, so enjoy it while I can.”