For some athletes, their rookie season on the Epson Tour serves as a “warm-up” to professional golf. Right out of college, planning and maintaining travel, and competing with some of the best athletes in the world. It’s not an easy feat, but there are a few that make it look that way.

Hailee Cooper didn’t have the start to her rookie season that she was looking for. She completed 72 holes at the Qualifying Stage of LPGA Q-Series in 2023 to earn status but did not have enough to gain entry into the first three tournaments come 2024. However, a win at the Women’s All-Pro Tour’s (WAPT) L'Auberge Lake Charles Championship earned the Texas A&M alum her first Epson Tour start at the IOA Morongo Casino Resort & Spa.

That start was what she needed, though, as the rookie went on to make 11 cuts in 12 starts, earning four top-10 results and finishing the season 35th in the season-long Race for the Card standings.

Fast forward to 2025, when Cooper has made the first three cuts of the season and added another top-10 finish to her resume.

“I felt like I wasn't done,” said Cooper following the IOA Golf Classic presented by Aperture. “I feel like I could have done a lot better last year, even though I played really well, so I was like, let's just kind of bring it into a fresh start of 2025, and I did. I still haven't really played my best, but I'm very grateful to have made three cuts and had some good finishes. But yeah, I feel good about it. I feel like I'm three for three.”

The 2025 season has looked good early for the Texas native, as she sits in 16th, just outside the coveted top 15 of the Epson Tour’s Race for the Card. She also picked up her second professional victory on the NXXT Women’s Pro Tour.

“It's nice to feel like you're in contention,” said Cooper. “These last few events, even though I think I was only two back in the first event, I just didn't feel like I was ever really in contention. So it was nice to get that (NXXT) win and hopefully be able to bring that into an Epson Tour tournament. It's good to be able to keep competitive like that.”

With the Epson Tour on a five-week break before getting back on the road out West, Cooper looks to refine her putting, something she saw as a struggle during the opening stretch, while also keeping competitive. The 25-year-old planned to return to the WAPT to defend her L'Auberge Lake Charles Championship title, closing out her preparation before putting her foot on the gas in hopes of securing her LPGA Tour card through the Race for the Card.

The WAPT tournament is officially through its opening 18 holes, and it’s no surprise that Cooper finds herself near the top of the leaderboard yet again, this time in a share of third. Only time will tell if she’ll defend that title, but the good momentum could also see her hoist her first Epson Tour trophy soon.

Hailee Cooper Finds Early Success During Sophomore Campaign on Epson Tour

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