Until the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort and Spa, the Epson Tour saw a unique, long-standing streak occur, one that was a first for the circuit since Seiko Epson Corporation took on the Tour’s title sponsorship.

The 2022 and 2023 seasons each saw at least one athlete hoist two or more trophies, with the Tour’s most recent multiple winner being 2023 Epson Tour Player of the Year Gabriela Ruffels, who earned three victories in 2023. Since Ruffels’ last victory at the 2023 Four Winds Invitational, the Official Qualifying Tour of the LPGA has crowned 29 different winners in 29 tournaments.

But that all changed on Sunday in Beaumont, Calif.

Briana Chacon finally broke the streak, earning her second career Epson Tour victory at the IOA Championship just a little over one year after she claimed her first title last March.

“It's a huge honor. (My) first win was really early last season, so it's kind of funny that the second win is a little early this season,” said Chacon following Sunday’s final round. “But to be honest, I really had no expectations going into today. Today's final round, I just wanted to play my best, and whatever happens, happens. Kind of similar to how my last one was also. I'm super honored and super grateful for how everything turned out, and had a really solid day today.”

The Whittier, Calif., native picked up her first trophy on the opposite coast at the third tournament of the 2024 season, the Atlantic Beach Classic presented by Access Golf, but she then struggled to keep that momentum going through the rest of the season.

The then-Epson Tour rookie made 11 of 16 cuts after her victory but failed to record another top-10 result in the process, finishing 25th in the season-long Race for the Card standings. Having learned from her experience last year, Chacon is now determined to continue riding the good energy from this early victory and earn her LPGA Tour card through the Race for the Card top 15 this year.

“I think I'm going to take this win as momentum, build off this confidence that I have this week, and keep going and keep finishing strong,” said Chacon. “Most of all, try to finish strong at the end of the year. It's easy to have early success in the beginning of the year, but I think most importantly, just finishing strong at the end.”

Despite the confidence and comfortability that separated Chacon from the rest of the field coming down the stretch, her win did not come easily. The 132-player field battled windy and rainy conditions throughout the week, none of which fazed the 23-year-old who spent her collegiate career at the University of Oregon.

“It was pretty cold, pretty rainy. Granted, I did go to Oregon, so pretty used to that,” said Chacon in her winner’s interview. “So, it wasn't really that big of a challenge. I feel like I learned how to play in this type of weather in college, so it really wasn't anything out of the ordinary.

“I think as long as you're dressed accordingly and well-prepared, it's not that big of a deal. I think I did a really good job of staying steady in this weather and the wind and not getting too ahead of myself out there.”

Chacon and the Epson Tour remain out West for another three weeks, with the next stop being in Las Vegas for the Reliance Matrix Championship presented by Epson. The inaugural edition of the tournament is sure to see some great competition at Spanish Trail Country Club, but will it see the start of a new Epson Tour winners streak?

Briana Chacon Breaks a Long-Standing Epson Tour Streak with Recent Win

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