PENDLETON, Ore. – The 4th Annual Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic is set to begin Friday morning, bringing excitement to Pendleton as golfers prepare for the competition. With 144 players aiming for the trophy on Sunday, the event promises to be a thrilling showcase of talent.
Sarah Rhee, a former University of Washington golfer and member of the 2016 National Championship team, shared insights about the challenges players face at the tournament. “When it gets windy, it’s pretty tough. The greens get really firm. And so if you’re not hitting in the fairway and it’s hard to hold the greens out there and they can get really quick,” she said.
Wind is often a factor at the Wildhorse, but this year, players can expect more favorable weather conditions. “In past years we’ve had 90s, even 100s and just being in the later half of the season, players are tired, battling injuries. And so, not having to battle weather in the sun is going to be, really big,” Rhee added.
Notably, none of the previous winners will be competing this year, ensuring a new champion for 2025. Rhee, participating in her fourth Wildhorse Tournament, aims to capitalize on specific strategies. “Taking care of the par fives there. They’re pretty gettable this week as well. So yeah it’s going to be a lot of birdies out there I think,” she stated.
While no former Wildhorse winners are in this year’s field, some players have shown success in Pendleton. Cynthia Lu stands out with two top-5 finishes in the past two years.
For the season, Briana Chacon has already secured her LPGA card. Sophia Schubert and Erika Hara could also achieve this milestone after the weekend if they perform well.