2026 Epson Tour Four Winds Invitational Set for July 10-12

When and Where It Happens

South Bend’s Blackthorn Golf Club will host the 15th annual Four Winds Invitational from Friday, July 10 through Sunday, July 12. The event returns to Blackthorn after a brief hiatus, having last been played there in September 2020 and previously alternating with South Bend Country Club for the past five years. Tee times are slated for 7:30 a.m. ET each day, with the first and tenth groups teeing off. Admission is free, and spectators can enjoy on‑course concessions, though no golf carts are provided.

Who Will Compete and the Stakes

A record field of 144 golfers representing 20 nations will vie for the $225,000 purse, making this the largest Invitational in its history. After the first two rounds, the top 60 players (including ties) will continue to the final day, a format that tests both endurance and consistency. The Epson Tour, now in its 46th season, serves as the premier women’s qualifying circuit, with the top 15 finishers on the year‑end leaderboard earning LPGA Tour cards for 2027. Lauren Olivares currently tops the 2026 Epson Tour leaderboard, just ahead of Romero. This season’s 10 tournaments have each produced a different champion, most recently Kaleiya Romero at the June 28 event in Harris, Michigan. Last year’s winner Leah John walked away with $33,750.

Indiana Ties to Watch

Annabelle Pancake‑Webb, a Zionsville High School graduate who earned two All‑ACC honors at Clemson, is currently seventh on the Epson Tour leaderboard. Becca Huffer, a former Notre Dame standout (2009‑12) and four‑time All‑Big East performer, is another local favorite returning to the tournament. Mary Parsons, an Indiana University alumna and two‑year Epson Tour veteran, brings the Hoosier spirit to South Bend, though she missed the cut last year.

Star Sponsor Invitees

Katelyn Huber, a University of Florida freshman, earned SEC All‑Freshman honors and finished in the top ten of six of the Gators’ 12 tournaments. Her 72.44 scoring average ranks second‑lowest for a freshman in program history. Meanwhile, 12‑year‑old Bella Simões, a five‑time U.S. Kids’ World Champion and Drive, Chip and Putt National Champion, competes as a sponsor exemption, having attempted qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open at age nine.

The partnership behind the tournament extends beyond sport. The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and Four Winds Casinos work with Beacon Children’s Hospital to fund the AngelEye MilkTracker system, which streamlines infant feeding records for NICU staff. Over 14 years, the initiative has raised nearly $1.2 million, directly improving neonatal care safety.

Past Champions and What to Expect

Canada’s Leah John returns as the defending champion after her 2025 victory at -9, though the tournament has never seen a repeat winner in its 14 editions. Two 2025 runners‑up, Jennifer Chang and two‑time low‑score holder Gabriela Ruffels (tied with Nicole Vandermade at -12), also line up this year. Two former Four Winds winners, Brooke Henderson (2015) and Lilia Vu (2021), went on to capture LPGA major titles, offering a glimpse of future stars.

The event’s charity work and competitive depth make the 2026 edition a must‑watch. Fans can expect tightly‑fought qualifying rounds, high‑profile sponsor exemptions, and continued community impact through the hospital partnership.