Certain courses suit a player's eye or game when it comes to golf. This happens often on the PGA TOUR, with all of the longstanding events the Tour has on the schedule. Names like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have won 6+ times at courses during their careers. On the Epson Tour, it is extremely rare for a player to win an event multiple times, with changing venues and the player's ability to move up to the LPGA Tour and compete on the biggest stage in women's golf.

The IOA Golf Championship, presented by Morongo Casino Resort and Spa, is one of the longest-standing events on the Epson Tour, entering its 13th playing this week. When the tournament starts Friday morning, three athletes will have the chance to add their name back onto the IOA Championship trophy. However, based on past results and current form, no one is more likely than the 2021 IOA Championship winner, Sophie Hausmann.

Hausmann enters the week off the back of qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open presented by Ally after carding rounds of 67-68 (-9) to earn medalist honors at the Qualifying Site out of Atlanta, Ga., for her first appearance as a professional.

"I played the (U.S.) Open once as an amateur and pretty much fell in love with that tournament. So, I feel like every year I'm trying to make it back to it, and yeah, it worked out," explained Hausmann ahead of the IOA Championship. "Now we have a big stretch on the Epson Tour though coming up, and I feel like my focus will be on that for the next couple of weeks, and then everything else will come."

Getting to this point has not been easy for the German, who played in her first full season in 2024 after a foot injury sidelined her during her 2023 season. Getting comfortable again on the course after an injury takes time, but even in just her fourth event back on Tour in 2024 at the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort and Spa, Hausmann put up another top finish, ending the week T3.

Since her win in 2021, Hausmann has not finished outside the top-6 when teeing off at Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon. She cannot fully explain her comfort on the course, but whatever it is, it has been working for the 27-year-old.

"Yeah, it's funny enough. I can't pinpoint one thing, but I think it's a couple of things," said Hausmann. "I do see the ball going in the hole on this golf course. I feel like I do love the mountains around it. I always liked the West Coast, even in college. I feel California had some really good tournaments playing in that state. So yeah, it is a good atmosphere. So I'll just try to take some away from that."

Now healthy and her game back on track, Hausmann is looking to secure her LPGA Tour card for the first time. Read more about her injury and the journey back to the Epson Tour here.

Hausmann Enters the IOA Championship with Confidence and Comfort After Earning a Spot in the 2025 U.S. Women's Open

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