First Event of the Four Week West Coast Swing

The start of the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort and Spa marks the beginning of a four-week stretch out West for the Epson Tour. Over the next four weeks, the Official Qualifying Tour of the LPGA will make stops in four different states (California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah), starting at the longest-standing event of the four this week. The IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort and Spa is entering its 13th year on Tour, making it one of the longest running tournaments on the schedule.

With colder weather than usual this week in Southern California, the field of 132 players could see a different side of Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon, which saw a record-breaking tournament in 2024.

Juliana Hung Returns to Defend Her Title After Record Breaking 2024 Tournament

As previously mentioned, the 2024 edition of the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort and Spa saw long-time records fall as Juliana Hung posted rounds of 64-64-67, to finish the week at 21-under. The performance broke both the tournament and all-time 54-hole scoring record, and Hung became the first athlete in Epson Tour history to finish a 54-hole event at 20-under or better.

The Epson Tour sophomore is set to defend her title in 2025 after finishing No. 24 in the Race for the Card in her 2024 rookie season. Hung missed out on an LPGA Tour card by just nine spots and under 200 points. She is currently No. 12 in the Race for the Card entering the week, making all three cuts so far this season, including a T3 result at the season-opening Central Florida Championship.

The 2025 Edition Will Have Three Champions Returning

Being one of the longest-running events on the Epson Tour, the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort and Spa comes with a decorated champions list, with multiple past winners currently on the LPGA Tour.

Three former winners are back in 2025, with Juliana Hung, Sophie Hausmann, and Jillian Hollis all set to make their fourth start of the season. Hung, as mentioned, won the most recent championship in 2024, while Hausmann won in 2021, and Hollis took home the trophy in 2019. All three former champions would love to add another victory in Beaumont to their resume when play ends Sunday afternoon.

Three Things to Know About the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort and Spa

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