WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The 132-player field for the 13th annual Florida’s Natural Charity Classic from March 4-6 was finalized by the Epson Tour late Wednesday, as the “Road to the LPGA” returns to the Country Club of Winter Haven next week for the first time since March 2020.

Ten players that call Florida home will tee it up in Polk County including Windermere native and University of Florida alumna Sam Wagner, who finished at No. 17 on the 2021 Race for the Card money list. Every season, the top 10 in the Race for the Card earn LPGA Tour membership for the following year.

“There’s something extra sweet about playing a tournament so close to home,” Wagner said. “I am so excited to open the year in Winter Haven, less than an hour from my hometown. Some of my family can come watch and the support makes a big difference. I grew up playing on this type of Florida golf course, so I’ll have some confidence when we tee it up next Friday.”

Also highlighting the field is 10 former Epson Tour graduates, led by 2020 Epson Tour Player of the Year, Ana Belac. An Epson Tour winner at the 2020 Carolina Golf Classic presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, Belac has never missed a cut in 13 career Epson Tour starts. She also became the first player from Slovenia to earn LPGA Tour membership, as a 2020 Epson Tour graduate and 2021 LPGA Tour rookie.

“With limited fields for the LPGA Tour events in Asia, it’s great to come back to the Epson Tour and get some reps in, stay fresh,” said Belac. “I hope to replicate some of my past results on the Epson Tour to find a good rhythm for the rest of the year on the LPGA. I haven’t played Florida’s Natural Charity Classic before, so it will be a good test to see a new course and go up against a strong field.”

Two tournament sponsor exemptions round out the field in Dublin, Ohio native Erin Harper and Canadian, Christina Foster. Both are Epson Tour members with ties to Florida’s Natural and the host venue.

“I really can’t thank Florida’s Natural enough for giving me the opportunity to compete,” said Harper, who has made 22 career starts on the Epson Tour since her rookie year of 2019. “It will be a great experience to compete in my first Florida’s Natural Charity Classic, which has a lot of history in central Florida, to kick off my fourth season on Tour.”

Individuals will compete in a 54-hole, stroke-play format for $200,000 and a cut will be made to the top-60 competitors plus ties after 36 holes. Fans can purchase day-of tickets at the Country Club of Winter Haven for a cost of $10 per day and $25 for the week.

Florida’s Natural Charity Classic Field Finalized

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