The 120-player field is ready to tee it up at Alaqua Country Club for the fourteenth rendition of the IOA Golf Classic, set to begin on Friday, March 13, and conclude on Sunday, March 15. The tournament will be the second chance Epson Tour athletes have to move their way up and into the Race for the Card standings. Here are a few things to know before play begins:

Addition of Monday Qualifier

Earlier this year, the Epson Tour announced the addition of an 18-hole stroke-play local qualifying round for three upcoming 2026 tournaments: the Atlantic Beach Classic presented by Access Golf, the IOA Golf Classic, and the Orlando Health Championship. The fields for each of the LQRs will be filled up to 36 Epson Tour Professional Members, ranked in order of the 2026 Epson Tour Priority List as of the commitment deadline for the applicable tournament.

A total of 24 Epson Tour members competed in the IOA Golf Classic Monday qualifier, and Lauren Peter and Yue Zhang fired rounds of 2-under, 69, for the chance to compete in the second event of the 2026 Epson Tour season. The Epson Tour is looking forward to continuing to provide more opportunities for professional golfers to compete and advance their careers in 2026.

Important Tournament Information

The IOA Golf Classic is the second tournament on the 2026 Epson Tour schedule. The tournament will be played from Friday, March 13, to Sunday, March 16, at Alaqua Country Club, and the 120-player field will compete for $200,000. The winner will walk away with $30,000 and 500 crucial Race for the Card points. Tournament admission is free. A junior clinic will also take place on Wednesday, March 11, giving young players the opportunity to learn from professional athletes.

Past Champions’ success on the LPGA Tour

The tournament has seen a few athletes hoist the IOA Golf Classic trophy and then go on to find themselves on the LPGA Tour. Aussies Hannah Green and Grace Kim won the tournament in 2017 and 2022, respectively, before finding success on the biggest stage in women’s golf. 2025 champion Gina Kim found her first of three wins during the 2025 season at Alaqua Country Club, propelling her to finish No. 3 in the Race for the Card standings, clinching LPGA Tour membership for the 2026 season.

But no one has yet hoisted two IOA Golf Classic trophies. Could this be the year? 2020 and 2023 champions Laura Wearn and Jenny Coleman will return to Alaqua Country Club in search of another Epson Tour victory. Wearn tees it up after a T29 finish at the Atlantic Beach Classic presented by Access Golf, while Coleman is looking to make her first cut of the Epson Tour season.

Things to Know About the 2026 IOA Golf Classic

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