Image Credit: Isaiah Bell/ Epson Tour
It wasn’t supposed to be easy—Mystic Creek Golf Club rarely is. Tree-lined fairways, punishing rough, greens that repel anything less than perfect. But on Sunday in El Dorado, Arkansas, the toughest test on the Epson Tour became the stage for Erica Shepherd’s long-awaited breakthrough.
The 24-year-old left-hander from Indiana, a Duke alumna once hailed as a can’t-miss prospect, walked away with her first professional victory at the Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout. She did it with patience, precision, and a clutch birdie on the 72nd hole that will echo in her memory for years to come.
“I actually am proud of myself,” Shepherd admitted afterward, her voice betraying both relief and disbelief. “I don’t know if I’ve ever said that before. It’s been such a journey, and succeeding in pro golf has definitely not been easy for me.”
A Final Round with Nerves—and Nerve
Shepherd began the day three shots behind the leaders, hardly the profile of a favorite. But she steadied herself early, carding birdies at the third and sixth holes to move into contention.
On the back nine, she showed the kind of composure that had once made her a four-time Augusta National Women’s Amateur participant. A birdie at the par-5 14th set the stage. Then, with a gallery gathered around Mystic Creek’s demanding 18th green, Shepherd poured in a seven-footer for birdie—a putt that sealed both the win and her place in Epson Tour history as the first left-handed champion.
“I didn’t really know that it was to win, but I knew it was an important putt,” she said. “I just trusted my gut with the read. It was just a good, hard putt, and I’m glad I made it.”
The Chase Pack: Kuehn, Telfer, Zeng
If Shepherd was the story, the supporting cast was no less compelling.
Rachel Kuehn, the Wake Forest star and Arnold Palmer Cup veteran, surged from T16 to a share of second with a brilliant 5-under 67—the lowest round of the week. “It was a bit of a grind,” she said. “I didn’t have my A game with my ball striking, but I kind of saved myself with my putter. You take it when you get it around this golf course—it’s probably the toughest venue we’ve played all year.”
Kaleigh Telfer matched her at 3-under, firing a 68 and leaning on her caddie Andrew to keep her locked in. “I never knew anything about the leaderboards,” she said. “I just played my game, and I think that was key today.”
China’s Liqi Zeng, the 19-year-old prodigy who already holds LPGA status, closed with a 71 to join the tie for second. Her mix of five birdies and four bogeys reflected both her immense talent and the pitfalls of Mystic Creek.
Heartbreak for the Favorites
For others, Sunday was a reminder of golf’s cruelty.
Four-time Epson Tour winner Gina Kim entered just a shot off the lead but stumbled with a quadruple bogey and a double, finishing T5 despite five birdies. Becca Huffer, the Notre Dame veteran, began the day on top but faltered with a 74 to also settle for a share of fifth.
Then there was Yana Wilson, the 18-year-old rookie from Las Vegas, who stole headlines with a hole-in-one at the par-3 12th—her first ace as a professional. She soared from T25 into a tie for fifth, proof that her future is as bright as her smile afterward.
What It Means
For Shepherd, the victory is transformational. The win was worth $45,000 and, perhaps more importantly, 500 Race for the Card points. She leapt 57 spots to No. 21 in the standings, putting a season that once looked lost firmly back on track.
“To finally have won an event and win it here, where the course is so hard, it means so much,” Shepherd said. “I left here last year just in shambles. This feels like a full-circle moment.”
With the Tour Championship looming at Indian Wells, Shepherd now carries both confidence and momentum into the Epson Tour’s biggest stage.
Final Leaderboard – Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout
| Pos. | Player | To Par | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erica Shepherd | -4 | 75-68-69 |
| T2 | Rachel Kuehn | -3 | 70-76-67 |
| T2 | Kaleigh Telfer | -3 | 69-76-68 |
| T2 | Liqi Zeng | -3 | 68-74-71 |
| T5 | Gina Kim | -2 | 69-72-73 |
| T5 | Becca Huffer | -2 | 70-70-74 |
Looking Ahead
The Epson Tour players now get a week to catch their breath before heading west to California. There, under the desert sun of Indian Wells, the season will culminate in the Tour Championship. For Shepherd, it’s no longer just about surviving. It’s about proving that the resilience forged through struggle can carry her into golf’s brightest spotlight.
As she walked off the green Sunday, trophy in hand, Shepherd looked both exhausted and exhilarated. The wait was long, the road bumpy, but at last, she is a champion.
Disclaimer: This article is based on official Epson Tour media materials, transcripts, and post-round interviews. Fairway Queens is an independent golf media site covering professional women’s golf.
