Malaysia’s Natasha Andrea Oon has regained second place on the Epson Tour’s 2023 Race for the Card standings following her joint 14th finish in last week’s FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship.
The 21-year-old carded rounds of 70, 72 and 71 at Battle Creek Country Club in Michigan for a three-under-par 213 total, seven shots adrift of winner Siyun Liu of China who claimed her first professional victory.
Oon picked up a cheque for US$2,845 to take her season haul to US$63,736. Boasting five top-10s including two runner-up finishes in 10 starts this year, Oon is marginally ahead of American Gigi Stoll with US$63,560.
“I’m happy with my performances so far, although it was unfortunate that I missed the cut in one event. It’s all part of the learning process. I haven’t played this much golf before, so honestly, it’s been a grind,” said Oon, who turned professional in June last year after an impressive collegiate golf career with San Jose State University.
Oon’s fine performances on the Epson Tour have propelled her to a career-high 360th position on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, 53 rungs below current Malaysian number one Kelly Tan.
The next best-placed Malaysian on the Race for the Card ranking is Alyaa Abdulghany in 15th place with US$33,320 from six events. Alyaa, who turned professional in 2021, recently chalked up her best result on the Epson Tour with a joint second place finish at the Inova Mission Inn Resort & Club Championship. Compatriot Ashley Lau is in 129th position, having amassed US$2,055 from eight starts.
The Epson Tour has completed 10 of 22 events on its 2023 schedule, where the top 10 players following the season-ending Epson Tour Championship in October will earn coveted Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour cards for 2024. Australia’s Gabriela Ruffels is the runaway leader in the standings with a whopping USD96,149.
The Epson Tour is on a one-week break and will resume with the Island Resort Championship at Sweetgrass Golf Club in Harris, Michigan on June 23-25.
