The Founders Cup presented by U.S. Virgin Islands is an exciting week for LPGA athletes, serving as the first time the majority of the field will take to the golf course in 2025. This is especially exciting for the 2024 Epson Tour graduates, with six of the 10 that are competing this week playing in their first tournament as LPGA Tour rookies.

Two athletes found success during the opening 18 holes, and only three posted an under-par score, making Friday’s second round a crucial day for the other six looking to make their first cut of the season. Madison Young and Jenny Bae lead the pack and are in a share of 22nd after signing for 2-under 69s on day one.

Young battled highs and lows early on in the tournament, carding a bogey and double bogey on Nos. 10 and 11, but she pulled out six birdies in her final 13 holes to find herself in red numbers at the end of the day. Xu had a more consistent scorecard, making two birdies and one bogey on the day.

Also, in that share of 22nd are Epson Tour alumnae Benedetta Moresco, Kum-Kang Park and Soo Bin Joo, who have all spent time on both the LPGA and Epson Tours throughout their career and earned 2025 LPGA Tour status at the Final Qualifying stage of LPGA Q-Series in December.

Fiona Xu, one of the 15 graduates from last season, also represented the Epson Tour well on Thursday at Bradenton Country Club, signed for the third and final under-par score of the day to sit in a share of 36th at 1-under.

Here’s where the 2024 Epson Tour graduates stand after the opening 18 holes at the Founders Cup:

Madison Young – T22, -2
Jenny Bae – T22, -2
Fiona Xu – T36, -1
Brooke Matthews – T72, +1
Ingrid Lindblad – T72, +1
Ana Belac – T88, +2
Jessica Porvasnik – T97, +3
Cassie Porter – T97, +3
Lauren Stephenson – T97, +3
Fatima Fernandez Cano – 117th, +6

Epson Tour Grads Get First Glimpse of LPGA Tour Competition at Founders Cup

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