The end of the Epson Tour season calls for a lot of celebration. Fifteen athletes earned LPGA Tour cards for the 2025 season, graduating from the Official Qualifying Tour of the LPGA to the biggest stage in women’s golf. Two additional athletes were also rewarded for their efforts off the golf course and recognized for how they represented themselves and the Epson Tour in a positive way.

At the LPGA Card Ceremony, which concludes the season and celebrates a year of hard work, Alexis Phadungmartvorakul was honored with the Epson Community Achievement Award, while Fatima Fernandez Cano was named the Heather Wilbur Spirit Award recipient. Both awards were nominated and voted on by the winners’ Epson Tour peers. To go along with the honors, both athletes received $5,000 from Seiko Epson Corporation for their contributions to the game on and off the course.

For the second year, Epson honored an athlete who goes above and beyond in their community and the ones visited on Tour. They created the Epson Community Achievement Award in 2023 to recognize an athlete who gives their time and energy as both an athlete and Tour representative. Whether participating in junior clinics, interacting with fans, or creating a second home with their host family, this athlete positively impacts each community they visit.

Phadungmartvorakul became the second recipient of the award, joining 2023 winner Anna Redding. The 24-year-old immersed herself in every community the Tour stepped foot in this season, attending sporting events in the area and always participating in off-course activities. No matter where she is or what she’s doing, Phadungmartvorakul has a smile on her face and represents the Epson Tour well.

“It’s really cool (to receive this award),” said Phadungmartvorakul. “First of all, it means the world to get to play on this tour and get to travel week in and week out to different places in the country and get to enjoy the beauty of each city. Getting to appreciate the little cities we travel to, and big, and to meet everyone there and to see that they’re supporting women’s golf and women’s sports in general is really cool.”

The Heather Wilbur Spirit Award was established in 2003 to honor former Epson Tour player Heather Wilbur, who passed away from leukemia that same year. Wilbur was also the first recipient of the award, which honors the player that best exemplifies dedication, courage, perseverance, love of the game, and a spirit toward achieving their goals as a professional golfer. Fernandez Cano adds herself to a list of inspiring athletes, including 2023 recipient Hannah Arnold, current Epson Tour athlete Lindsey McCurdy, and LPGA Tour stars Ally Ewing and Mo Martin.

“I’m actually very, very happy about it,” said Fernandez Cano. “Any time that you get an award, of course, is something that is very exciting. Having been nominated by my fellow players and voted on by my fellow players, that means a little bit more because we all know each other out here. We all hang out with each other and just to be recognized by them is huge. And, of course, the Resilience Award; I’m just very, very proud of that.”

The three-time Epson Tour graduate has seen plenty of highs and lows throughout her career, including battling back from a wrist injury that was only corrected with off-season surgery. Fernandez Cano was certain a return to the LPGA Tour was not in her cards, but through perseverance and her love of golf, which her peers have recognized, the Spaniard walked away from the 2024 Epson Tour season with an LPGA Tour card and the prestigious Heather Wilbur Spirit Award.

For more information about the Epson Community Achievement Award and Heather Wilbur Spirit Award, please click HERE.

Alexis Phadungmartvorakul and Fatima Fernandez Cano Receive 2024 End-Of-Season Awards

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