DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – The Epson Tour announced recently that Erika Hara officially becomes the next player this season to mathematically lock in a spot inside the coveted top 15 of the Race for the Card standings, securing her LPGA Tour card for the 2026 season.
Hara is the fourth athlete to secure her card early, joining Melanie Green, Gina Kim and Briana Chacon as guaranteed members of the 2025 Epson Tour graduating class.
With four tournaments still remaining and plenty of points left to play for, the pressure to make a push for those ranked just outside of the top 15 grows significantly. The official LPGA Card Ceremony will take place on Oct. 5, following the Epson Tour Championship at Indian Wells in Indian Wells, Calif.
ABOUT ERIKA HARA:
- Hara will be an LPGA Tour rookie in 2026
- Is a 2025 Epson Tour rookie
- Current No. 3 in the season-long Race for the Card
- Has earned eight top-10 finishes in 2025, including one win
- Win: Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic
- Has made the cut in all 15 of her appearances
- Earned a T16 result at the 2024 Honda LPGA Thailand
- Has been a member of the LPGA of Japan (JLPGA) since 2018
- Two-time Japan Women’s Open Golf Championship winner (2020, 2023)
- Won the 2020 Japan LPGA Tour Championship
- First professional win was the 2019 Resort Trust Ladies
Hara on securing her LPGA Tour Card:
“I’m very happy. I want to express my appreciation to my team members and family, but most of all, I’d like to thank my golf teacher and mentor, (Masashi) Jumbo Ozaki. And to all the fans for supporting me.”
WHO GETS STATUS:
- Epson Tour Athletes finishing Nos. 1-10 on the Race for the Card Points List will earn 2026 LPGA status in Category 9
- Epson Tour Athletes finishing Nos. 11-15 on the Race for the Card Points List will earn 2026 LPGA status in Category 16