Epson Tour Player of the Year Winners
The Epson Tour Player of the Year Award has been given since 1984, before the tour was even associated with the LPGA Tour (the LPGA has owned the developmental circuit since 2007). The Epson Tour was previous known as the Futures Tour, Duramed Futures Tour, and Symetra Tour, and will likely be known by other names in the future as title sponsors change.
Through 2023, the tour's season-long money leader was automatically named the Player of the Year. Beginning in 2024, the Epson Tour Player of the Year Award is based on "Race for the Card" points. That is a season-long points chase — points earned based on wins and high finishes — that results in the 15 highest point-earners automatically moving up to the LPGA Tour for the following year. And the golfer who finishes No. 1 in "Race to the Card" points is also named the Player of the Year.
The List: Players of the Year on Epson Tour
2025 — Melanie Green2024 — Lauren Stephenson
2023 — Gabriela Ruffels
2022 — Linnea Strom
2021 — Lilia Vu
2020 — Ana Belac
2019 — Perrine Delacour
2018 — Ruixin Liu
2017 — Benyapa Niphatsophon
2016 — Madelene Sagstrom
2015 — Annie Park
2014 — Marissa Steen
2013 — P.K. Kongkraphan
2012 — Esther Choe
2011 — Kathleen Ekey
2010 — Cindy LaCrosse
2009 — Mina Harigae
2008 — Vicky Hurst
2007 — Emily Bastel
2006 — Song-Hee Kim
2005 — Seon-Hwa Lee
2004 — Jimin Kang
2003 — Stacy Prammanasudh
2002 — Lorena Ochoa
2001 — Beth Bauer
2000 — Heather Zakhar
1999 — Grace Park
1998 — Michelle Bell
1997 — Marilyn Lovander
1996 — Vickie Odegard
1995 — Patty Schremmer
1994 — Marilyn Lovander
1993 — Nanci Bowen
1992 — Jodi Renner
1991 — Kim Williams
1990 — Denise Killeen
1989 — Jennifer MacCurrach
1988 — Jenny Lidback
1987 — Laurel Kean
1986 — Tammie Green
1985 — Tammie Green
1984 — Peny Hammel
Note that two golfers have won the Epson Tour Player of the Year Award twice: Tammie Green and Marilyn Lovander. In Green's case, she won in back-to-back years at a time when the tour did not have an affiliation with the LPGA and no golfers automatically "graduated" to the LPGA Tour. But winning this award twice is not something a golfer wants: They all want to win it once, move up to the LPGA Tour and then do well enough on the LPGA to stay there.
Related articles:
- Yearly money leaders on Epson Tour
- Yearly scoring leaders on Epson Tour
- Youngest winners on Epson Tour
LPGA Tour. Espon Tour Player of the Year, https://www.epsontour.com/athletes/epson-tour-player-awards/player-of-the-year.
LPGA Tour. Epson Tour Race for the Card, How It Works, https://www.epsontour.com/race-for-the-card.
