Anne Chen Surges to the Top as Epson Tour Championship Heats Up

Photo Credit: Isaiah Bell/ Epson Tour

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — The desert sun and the Celebrity Course at Indian Wells conspired to turn Friday’s second round of the Epson Tour Championship into a day of fireworks, fist pumps, and leaderboard chaos. By sunset, Duke alum Anne Chen had grabbed control of the field with a blistering 8-under 64 that vaulted her into the outright lead at 12-under par.

What makes Chen’s charge even more impressive is how she did it: a front-nine 30 highlighted by three straight birdies right out of the gate, then three more on the back nine for good measure. A single bogey did little to dent her momentum. For a player who started the year searching for confidence, Friday was the kind of round that can change a career.

“It would mean a lot to finish strong,” Chen said afterward. “I struggled a bit this year but also played better than last season. To finish this last tournament would mean the world to me — and to my parents, who put in so much work too.”

Wilson, Hodge, and Schubert Keep the Pressure On

Right behind Chen is a trio of players at 11-under: Yana Wilson, Alice Hodge, and Sophia Schubert.

• Wilson, just 19 years old and already a two-time winner this season, fired a bogey-free 65. Playing in front of family who flew in from as far away as Hawaii and Tennessee, she looked calm and confident despite battling through a lingering back issue. She’s chasing not just a victory but also the rare feat of winning both Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year in the same season.
• Hodge, a rookie from New York, posted a steady bogey-free 68 to keep herself in prime position. She called the experience “nerve-wracking but exciting,” admitting she’s uncomfortable but embracing the pressure. For a player ranked 59th in the Race for the Card, a win here could be her ticket straight to the LPGA.
• Schubert, the former U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, is eyeing her LPGA return. After an opening 64, she followed with a 69 that leaves her just one shot off the lead. Having lost her LPGA card after 2024, she knows how much this week means. “It means so much,” she said. “Just to have this opportunity again means the world to me.”

A Logjam at Nine-Under

A cluster of talent sits three shots back at 9-under: Mexico’s Isabella Fierro, USC standout Amari Avery, and Taiwan’s Yu-Sang Hou. Fierro lit up her front nine with a 32, then added three more birdies coming home for a 65. Avery battled all afternoon before closing with birdies to finish with a 67, while Hou produced one of the cleanest cards of the day, a bogey-free 66.

They’ll all need another low round on Saturday to catch Chen, but their games look primed for the weekend. Fierro, in particular, has extra motivation — she sits inside the Race for the Card bubble and knows a big finish secures her LPGA status for 2026.

Stories From the Chase Pack

At 8-under, Germany’s Isi Gabsa turned heads with a bogey-free 64 despite playing through nagging injuries. “I just appreciate hitting balls again and playing without painkillers,” she said. Her smile after signing her card said it all — gratitude can be a dangerous motivator.

Also in the mix at 8-under are players like Sarah White, Megan Schofill, Melanie Green, and a handful of others, making this one of the most congested leaderboards of the season.

Previewing Round 3: Moving Day Pressure

Saturday at Indian Wells will be “Moving Day” in every sense. With the cut made at 3-under, 60 players remain, all chasing not just the trophy but valuable Race for the Card points. The course has yielded birdies in bunches, but it has also punished the slightest miss — particularly around the slick greens and desert winds that often pick up in the afternoon.

For Chen, the task is simple: keep the foot down. For Wilson, Hodge, and Schubert, the opportunity to seize control is right there. For everyone else, patience will be key — but so will taking advantage of scorable holes early.

It’s rare to see this much talent separated by just a handful of strokes, and rarer still to know what’s at stake: LPGA cards, rookie honors, season-defining wins. Moving Day promises drama, and Sunday’s finale could be unforgettable.

Top 10 Leaderboard After Round 2