In a commanding final-round performance, Jeongeun Lee6 surged to victory at the IOA Golf Classic, claiming her second professional title and first since her breakthrough 2019 U.S. Women’s Open triumph.
Entering Sunday in a three-way tie for the lead alongside Haylee Harford Sanchez and Liqi Zeng, the 29-year-old from the Republic of Korea battled early nerves amid ongoing swing adjustments following the loss of her LPGA Tour card after the 2025 season. Undeterred, Lee6 delivered a brilliant 6-under-par round featuring one eagle and seven birdies, finishing at the top of the leaderboard by a single stroke.
She started strong with birdies on two of her first three holes but briefly faltered with bogeys on No. 6 and No. 9, turning at 2-under. Regaining momentum, she birdied No. 12 before exploding on the par-5 13th with a stunning eagle. Lee6 sealed the win on the closing holes, most notably with a precise full pitching wedge from 116 meters to two feet on the final hole, which she calmly converted for birdie.
“I’m still feeling uncomfortable with my swing, but I tried to focus on what I had to do today, and it worked well,” Lee6 said. Reflecting on the decisive shot, she added, “Yes, if I made a birdie, I can win. I knew that. But it was 116 meters, so I was thinking a controlled nine or full pitching wedge. I changed to the pitching wedge, hit a full shot, and made it.”
Fellow Republic of Korea native Jiwon Jeon also staged a significant charge on Sunday, starting the day in a tie for 13th, at 4-under par total. The LPGA and Epson Tour veteran quickly got to work dropping back-to-back birdies on holes two and three and again on eight and nine to make the turn 4-under. The University of Alabama alumnae got to work and two birdies and an eagle on the back nine, to sign for a bogey-free 8-under, bringing her to 12-under total for the tournament and claiming a solo second finish.
“I mean, it feels amazing, Jeon expressed, “My golf game has been a little off the last couple of years, and I worked really hard during off season and am trying to get my game back and the confidence back on the golf course. That worked out pretty well. I’m very proud of myself shooting 8 under today.”
With this win, Lee6 is now sitting at No. 1 in the Race for the Card standings, with week one winner Isabella Fierro being the second athlete to claim the top of the leaderboard this 2026 season.
Mariel Galdiano started the day one shot back of 36-hole leaders Haylee Harford Sanchez, Liqi Zeng, and Jeongeun Lee6, ultimately finishing in solo third at 11-under total. Galdiano put up a good fight, finding a mix of eagles, birdies, and bogeys for a final round of 5-under. The Hawaii native now has eight top-10 finishes throughout her Epson Tour career and is looking forward to carrying this momentum into the final event of the Florida swing with hopes of securing her first professional win.
When the day began, Amari Avery was in a tie for 26th at 1-under par, before lighting it up in her final round on Championship Sunday. Avery rounded the turn with a strong 2-under 33 on the front nine. The University of Southern California native did not stop there, making four more birdies, highlighted by three consecutive on holes 12-14, ultimately signing for a 6-under, 65, to finish the tournament in a tie for eighth. With this top finish, Avery now sits at No. 13 in the Race for the Card standings and looks to hold her position as the remainder of the season gets underway.
As the first weeks of the 2026 season continue, the Epson Tour will head off to Lakeland, Fla., for the inaugural playing of the Orlando Health Championship from March 20-22 at the Grasslands Golf & Country Club.
Epson Tour Video: Jeongeun Lee6
Fresh off a victory on the Epson Tour, Jeongeun Lee6 wasted no time proving she still had momentum to spare.
Less than 24 hours after capturing the title at the IOA Golf Classic in Longwood, Fla., Lee6 boarded a red-eye flight, arrived in California in the early morning hours, and teed it up in the Monday Qualifier for the Fortinet Founders Cup, where she earned one of the two coveted spots in the field. There was no rest, no reset, and barely any sleep.
“I went straight to the housing, my friend’s house, and then arrived maybe at 4:20 a.m. I took a shower in hot water. I needed that,” Lee6 said. “Then I didn’t sleep because if I slept, I’d be more tired, I think. So, I didn’t sleep, stretched a little bit, and then I had breakfast, and then went straight to the tee box.”
Press release: Epson Tour Communications, Carly Haines – Digital Content Producer for the Epson Tour
