DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. and ALCOA, Tenn., (Aug. 12, 2025) – The Epson Tour announced today the addition of the Smoky Mountain Championship to the 2026 schedule. The inaugural event will mark the Tour’s first appearance in Tennessee since the Chattanooga FUTURES Classic in 1991, this time hosting a 54-hole tournament at Green Meadow Country Club in Alcoa from August 3-9. The field will compete for a $250,000 purse.
“We’re thrilled to bring the Epson Tour to Tennessee and introduce the Smoky Mountain Championship,” said Jody Brothers, Chief Business and Operating Officer of the Epson Tour. “Green Meadow Country Club will be a great test for our athletes, and the tournament will open a door for new fans and communities to see the future stars of the LPGA Tour firsthand.”
The tournament will be run by Tour Vision Promotions, led by president and CEO Patrick Nichol. Tour Vision Promotions has run numerous tournaments on the Epson and Korn Ferry Tours, with the most recent Epson Tour event being the 2025 Atlantic Beach Classic presented by Access Golf.
“We are really excited to bring an Epson Tour event to the Knoxville area,” said Nichol. “Knoxville and the East Tennessee area have a long history of supporting professional golf, and Knoxville has certainly proved that it can support women's athletics as well as any city in America. Green Meadow will be a fantastic opportunity for the athletes to showcase their talents in their pursuit of an LPGA Tour card.”
Green Meadow Country Club has a rich and storied history in East Tennessee, providing a premier golf course which will provide a great test for the Epson Tour athletes. More information can be found at https://www.greenmeadowcountryclub.com/.
“I’m thrilled the Epson Tour is coming to my home state of Tennessee in 2026,” said Epson and LPGA Tour veteran, Sophia Schubert. “East Tennessee has always been a great place for golf because of the location, the great golf courses, and the community support. As a young golfer, I remember my parents taking us to professional golf events all over the Southeast, and watching the pros was fun, and they really inspired me. This is my 7th season as a professional golfer on the LPGA and Epson Tours, and I’m so grateful to the Epson Tour, the Tournament Sponsors and the LPGA for providing the perfect platform to showcase incredible golf being played by professional golfers from all over the world right here in East Tennessee!”
About the Epson Tour
The Epson Tour is the official qualifying tour of the LPGA Tour and enters its 45th competitive season in 2025. With the support of entitlement partner Seiko Epson Corporation, the Tour’s mission is to prepare the world’s best female professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour. In the last decade, the Epson Tour has grown from 15 tournaments and $1.6 million in prize money to $5 million awarded across 20 events in 2025. In all, 406 LPGA Tour titles have been won by Epson Tour alumni, including 51 major championships. Follow the Epson Tour at www.epsontour.com, as well as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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