Weekend rounds of 66-69 have not only earned Cassie Porter an LPGA Tour card but improved her status considerably for her rookie season in 2025.

Starting the Epson Tour Championship 11th in the Race For The Card standings, Porter had to dig deep to hold hopefuls at bay at Indian Wells in California.

A 5-under-par round of 66 in Round 3 elevated Porter from 42nd to 22nd on the Tour Championship leaderboard, a 2-under 69 in the final round enough to end the week tied for 17th and claim the 10th of the LPGA Tour cards on offer.

By moving inside the top 10, Porter receives the Category 9 exemption category on the LPGA Tour next year while those who finish 11-15 earn the Category 15 exemption category.

“I am actually really struggling to believe it,” said Porter, pictured with her father, John.

“Even when I finished on 18, I had no idea… In my brain, I was like, Oh, there’s no way I’m making top 10. Obviously, I’m so excited for top 15, but I was like, there’s no chance.

“As things progressed, we moved up into 10 and I’m stoked. I can’t believe it. Hopefully it sinks in soon.

“I’ve dreamed about this since I was a little girl, so for it to be real so soon, I’m stoked.”

A member of the Golf Australia Rookie Squad, the highlight of Porter’s second season on the Epson Tour was her breakthrough victory at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship in June.

The 22-year-old from the Sunshine Coast turned professional in 2021 and in 2022 won the Melbourne International on the WPGA Tour of Australasia.

Kiwi Fiona Xu also earned promotion to the LPGA Tour in 2025 while Vic Open winner Ashley Lau earned conditional status with a runner-up finish in the season finale.

Results

Ladies European Tour
Aramco Team Series Presented by PIF - Shenzhen
Mission Hills Resort (World Cup Cse), China
1          Celine Boutier              66-68-66—200 $US67,970.25
T26      Kelsey Bennett             70-71-71—212 $5,256.37
T37      Kirsten Rudgeley          71-72-72—215 $3,262.57

Epson Tour
Epson Tour Championship at Indian Wells
Indian Wells Golf Resort (Players Cse), Indian Wells, California
1          Heather Lin                  67-63-71-67—268
T13      Amelia Garvey (NZ)      66-68-71-68—273
T17      Cassie Porter                70-70-66-69—275
MC       Fiona Xu                      73-72—145

LET Access Series
Iberdrola Calatayud Ladies Open
Gambito Golf Calatayud, Spain
1          Ellie Gower                   73-65-68—206 €7,200
MC       Laura Hoskin (NZ)        78-75—153