CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Southern Utah’s idyllic late spring weather and a competitive field stacked with talent resulted in a record-setting weekend at the Copper Rock Championship golf tournament in Hurricane.
The fourth annual Copper Rock Championship, a stop on the LPGA’s qualifying Epson Tour, was a swinging success overall. Spectator attendance more than doubled over last year, while the free junior golf clinic saw roughly four times as many participants.
“The volunteers were amazing. I’ve got nothing but compliments from everybody who stepped on our course about how friendly and helpful the volunteer team was,” said Penny James-Garcia, volunteer and event coordinator for the Copper Rock Championship. “The weather was absolutely spectacular, and we could not have asked for a better championship.”
After three days of play, it was 19-year-old Fiona Xu of New Zealand who lifted the trophy on Saturday afternoon. Xu, a rookie on the Epson Tour, clinched her first career victory with a dominant performance that saw her finish seven strokes ahead of her nearest competitor, South Africa’s Kaleigh Telfer. Canadian Alena Sharp finished in third place, while Cynthia Lu of Taiwan and American Jessica Porvasnik tied for fourth.
Xu was leading by two strokes going into the final round, and the gap between her and the rest of the field only grew wider as play continued. By the time she reached the 18th tee, a standing-room-only crowd had gathered in the hospitality tent surrounding the green to witness history in the making.
Ultimately, Xu’s final tally of 22 under par broke the all-time 54-hole scoring record for the Epson Tour as well as the tournament’s previous low score record.
“She hit a beautiful drive, stuck her second shot about 4 feet from the pin, and then came on up to the green,” James-Garcia said. “She stepped up to make that putt, and when it went in the hole for birdie to break the record, the place went wild. It was just incredible.”
Need more golf? In an unprecedented double-header, Copper Rock Golf Course is also hosting the LPGA Senior Championship this Thursday through Saturday, May 23-25. Featuring an illustrious roster of champions past and present, it’s the first major golf event of any tour to be played in Utah.
While the Epson Tour highlights ambitious young golfers chasing their dream of earning LPGA membership, the Senior Championship showcases the enduring talents of icons of the game. An international field of approximately 75 players will compete for their share of a $400,000 purse, with $60,000 going to the winner.
Earlier this week, Copper Rock Golf Course welcomed players from across the country for a qualifying tournament. After 18 holes of play and a two-hole playoff to break the tie for second place, Char Carson of Chandler, Arizona, and Christie Quinn of Palm Springs, California, earned their places in the LPGA Senior Championship field. Nuny Khamken from West Jordan, the 2023 Utah State Women’s Senior Amateur Championship winner, is also eligible to play through a sponsor exemption.
The LPGA Senior Championship is one of two major tournaments organized annually by Legends of the LPGA, the official senior tour of the LPGA. Legends of the LPGA was established in 2000 to provide competitive opportunities for LPGA Tour professionals and eligible amateurs ages 45 and over. The tour’s membership, which includes 15 LPGA Hall of Fame and World Golf Hall of Fame members, have collectively earned over 750 LPGA Tour victories, including 84 majors.
“The ladies are all here, and I can’t wait for the fans to come out and watch them,” James-Garcia said. “It’s such a thrill to see the greats come walking through our grounds. We’ve seen Juli Inkster, Cristie Kerr, Laura Davies, Hollis Stacy and so many others. It’s going to be an incredible weekend of golf.”
The action starts at 9 a.m. on Thursday as the first groups of players tee off at both the 1st and 10th holes. Food trucks will be on site all weekend long.
Tickets start at just $15 for general admission, or you can upgrade your experience with access to Club 17, an exclusive hospitality area overlooking the 17th green. Click here to reserve your spot and view important spectator and parking information.
Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.
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