The Epson Tour’s final Local Qualifying Round of the season was nothing short of eventful. Spring has sprung in the Sunshine State, bringing afternoon showers and spotting storms, resulting in a weather delay from 1:26 p.m. to 2 p.m. local time. Following the resumption and completion of play, Latanna Stone locked up medalist honors, and there was a tie for the second qualifying spot, leading to a three-way playoff between Carley Cox Pruette, Katherine Hollern, and Caroline Canales.

Stone, a Florida native, signed for a 1-under 71 on Grasslands Golf and Country Club. With storm clouds coming and going, and winds gusting, patience was key.

“It was a really big thing to stay patient,” said Stone. “It can get really hard, especially when the wind's blowing like that, so it was just one big step at a time, one shot at a time.”

The 24-year-old has teed it up in the last two Monday Qualifiers at the Atlantic Beach Classic presented by Access Golf and the IOA Golf Classic, but was unable to secure her spot in either field. Finally getting the job done was a weight off her shoulders.

“I felt really, really proud of myself for how I stuck in there today. It gives me a lot of confidence for this week,” said Stone. “It's been such a great opportunity that we're able to Monday qualify into these events, and coming up short on the last two, it was pretty tough. But closing it out on this last one, and getting to play, getting a chance to play this week is really exciting.”

And while the goal was always to earn a spot in this week’s field, the success on Monday was bittersweet. Stone has a rare opportunity, living only 50 minutes from the golf course, to have in-person support from her family and friends. But one special person, her husband, will be missing, as he is in their friend’s wedding, which Latanna will now miss.

“It's something you just have to kind of go through, and I really wish I could go, but I've been working so hard to be able to even get a chance to come out and play before the shuffle or before we move out to the West Coast,” said Stone. “It's just opportunities that I have to take, and I have to sacrifice a lot of things in order for these opportunities to occur. Just like this, for example.”

Cox Pruette quickly walked away with the final qualifying spot of the season, making a birdie on the first playoff hole, the par-3 10th, defeating Hollern and Canales, who both earned spots via Monday Qualifier at the Atlantic Beach Classic presented by Access Golf.

All three athletes had looks for birdie, and with Cox Pruette putting last, she knew what she had to do, and the pressure was on. The 15-footer, which held the power of shifting the North Carolinian’s season, looked as if it would be just short, but at the last second, the putt dropped, and the Epson Tour veteran knew she’d finished the job.

“I'm obviously very excited that I get to tee it up again in Florida,” said Cox Pruette. “I didn't think I would have two starts this early on in the season, so that's definitely a blessing.”

Stone and Cox Pruette round out the 120-player field, which will take on Grasslands Golf and Country Club on Friday, March 20. Tee times begin at 8:00 a.m. local time, and fans can follow along on epsontour.com.

Latanna Stone and Carley Cox Pruette Find Success in Epson Tour’s Final Local Qualifying Round

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