In 2024, Yana Wilson had an incredibly vital decision to make. Having verbally committed to the University of Oregon to play collegiate golf, she had to either stay on that path and go to college or turn professional and chase her dreams of playing on the LPGA Tour.

Embodying the spirit of her hometown, Henderson, Nev., a then 18-year-old Wilson gambled on her career, turned pro and earned Epson Tour membership for the 2025 season via LPGA Q-Series.

To say the gamble paid off for Wilson is an understatement. The now 19-year-old is a two-time Epson Tour winner and will go from one rookie season to another, as she has officially locked in her spot in the top 15 of the season-long Race for the Card and secured LPGA Tour status for 2026.

Even though she is now undeniably confident in her game, fast success was not always expected by Wilson. In fact, when the season started, her biggest goal was not the top 15. Consistency was at the forefront of Wilson’s mind, and at the end of an impressive rookie season, she can look herself in the mirror and say she accomplished that goal.

“I think I had a pretty good chance, but I didn't really have my expectations too high,” said Wilson. “I didn't play my best last year in the amateur golf tournaments and some professional events that I ended up playing, so I was really just trying to focus on staying consistent the entire year.”

Back when the season started in March, Wilson was fighting for opportunities. The rookie’s status on the Epson Tour wasn’t stellar, but she took advantage of being one of the last athletes into the Central Florida Championship field. A top-10 finish in Winter Haven gave her more starts throughout the rest of the Florida stretch, and she left the Sunshine State with two top 10s in three tournaments.

Now, with three events remaining in the season, Wilson is fighting again – but this time, it’s for Player of the Year honors.

“It feels pretty cool,” Wilson said about earning her card. “There's still more work to be done. I have other goals in mind that I want to achieve. So, job not done.”

The West Coast swing is where it all changed for Wilson. The Nevada native took home her first trophy just 20 minutes away from home in Las Vegas at the Reliance Matrix Championship presented by Epson. But it was her most recent win at the Dream First Bank Charity Classic that sealed the deal for the 19-year-old, as she clinched her LPGA Tour card following her victory in Kansas.

But through it all, her passion and attitude have remained the same. Wilson wants to be one of the best women’s golfers in the world and is leaning on the reps she has gotten from the consistent competition on the Epson Tour against a litany of top-tier athletes to help her achieve that dream.

“I just love golf. I love playing competitively all the time,” Wilson said. “And just being out (on the Epson Tour) and on the LPGA really helps me do that because you have some of the best competition here every single week. It's so much fun to get to know those other players and also compete against them.”

As the season winds down, Wilson’s confidence in her game remains steady. Fully showcasing the mission of the Epson Tour, the Official Qualifying Tour of the LPGA, she feels like she’s grown over the past 12 months and is now prepared to take on her rookie season on the biggest stage in women’s golf in 2026.

“I feel like there's really no weakness in my game right now,” said Wilson. “So, playing golf every week definitely helps. My ball striking has really improved since the beginning of the season. My driving accuracy has improved. My putting is still here and there, but hopefully, we're trying to get that stat down all the time.”

But most of all, Wilson feels like she’s matured as an athlete, not only physically, but mentally, as evidenced by her win at the Dream First Bank Charity Classic. The 19-year-old made a triple bogey on Buffalo Dunes Golf Course’s par-5 4th hole to start the final round, but didn’t let it affect her mental game, bouncing back with eight birdies in her next 14 holes to take home the trophy.

With only three tournaments remaining on the 2025 Epson Tour schedule, Wilson must continue her display of great golf to keep her spot at the top of the Race for the Card rankings, as Player of the Year honors is something that she would love to add to her already stacked young resume.

But Wilson will also use this time to enjoy it all, celebrate with her family, and let it sink in that come 2026, she’ll be an official member of the LPGA Tour.

“I'm really excited just to go back and celebrate with my family, because they'll be at the Tour Championship in California,” said Wilson. “That’s just going to be so much fun. I'm just really happy to have them there.”

Yana Wilson Finds Quick Success and LPGA Tour Card on Epson Tour in 2025

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