Lauren Stephenson, 27, returns to the LPGA with a renewed mind after one-year stint on the Epson Tour

Lauren Stephenson tied for eighth astatine nan inaugural LPGA Q-Series successful 2018 and began her master profession alongside nan champion successful nan world. That’s what made going down to nan Epson Tour for nan first clip successful 2024 a “terrifying” prospect.

“Almost makes you consciousness for illustration a nonaccomplishment erstwhile you’ve started astatine nan top,” she said.

What Stephenson recovered connected nan developmental circuit, however, was refreshing. She knew a batch of group but met caller faces arsenic good and recovered nan circuit rather welcoming.

“Epson is benignant of much of a family environment,” said Stephenson. “Everyone knows they request each different to get done nan season.

“The group are what make it fun.”

Success is besides fun, and Stephenson enjoyed a batch of that connected Epson, clinching her first master title astatine nan Twin Bridges Championship on pinch 8 further top-10 finishes to triumph Epson Tour Player of nan Year honors.

On nan Epson Tour, Stephenson, who played assemblage play astatine some Clemson and Alabama, was reminded that she plays play because she loves nan game, astatine immoderate level.

“It was a bully instruction for me,” said Golfweek’s 2018 College Player of nan Year.

Stephenson, 27, met hubby Kyle Morris erstwhile his parents hosted her astatine nan 2020 U.S. Women’s Open successful Houston. Morris was moving connected a master’s grade astatine nan clip successful Atlanta and was location for Christmas. The mates wed successful October 2023 and honeymooned successful Cabo aft Q-Series, wherever Stephenson tied for 27th. She had position for 2024, but not capable to put together overmuch of a schedule.

Early connected successful 2024, she chased Monday qualifiers earlier deciding midway done nan twelvemonth that she needed to put afloat successful Epson and it paid off.

Now, pinch her paper secured for 2025, Stephenson tin bask nan longest offseason of her master profession earlier starting her sixth twelvemonth connected nan LPGA. In summation to her triumph astatine nan Twin Bridges, she vanished runner-up doubly and led nan circuit pinch $136,025 connected nan season. She besides led nan circuit successful putts per greenish successful regularisation and rounds successful nan 60s. She vanished 3rd successful scoring pinch a 69.73 average.

“I deliberation erstwhile you’re struggling and watching your friends succeed, aliases group you grew up playing pinch – for illustration Lilia (Vu) winning each nan clip – you conscionable want truthful severely to beryllium successful that position,” said Stephenson, who astatine 1 clip owned nan NCAA scoring grounds for Division I.

“When you are benignant of successful that position of finishing No. 1 aliases winning connected Epson, nary of it changes your life. My Monday is still nan same. It’s awesome because I’m proud of myself … but I’m still nan aforesaid person.

“I deliberation realizing that was a bully mindset displacement for me.”