The LPGA isn’t the only tour with a significant turnaround story. The Symetra Tour, celebrating its 40th season, boasts similar gains. The developmental tour announced its 2020 schedule on Thursday, which features 20 tournaments and $3.6 million in total purses. The average purse size of $180,000, a record, is up nearly 50 percent from five years ago.
“This past weekend’s LPGA Tour win by 2016 Symetra Tour Player of the Year, Madelene Sagstrom, truly represents the readiness of Symetra Tour professionals when they make the jump to the big stage,” said Mike Nichols, the Chief Business Officer of the Symetra Tour, in a release. “We continue to make strides in providing our players with opportunities throughout the United States by collaborating with partners who share in the vision of growing women’s professional golf.”
There are two new events on the schedule: Circling Raven Championship from August 28-30 in Worley, Idaho, and the Copper Rock Championship in Hurricane, Utah, from Sept. 3-5. The purses for both events are $200,000.
The global nature of the sport is on full display here. Tour membership includes more than 300 players from 40 different counties. The top 10 players on the money list at the end of the season will earn LPGA membership.
The first event of 2020 will be held March 6-8 at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic at the Country Club of Winter Haven.
2020 schedule
| Dates | Tournament | Location | Course | Purse |
| March 6-8 | Florida’s Natural Charity Classic | Winter Haven, Fla. | Country Club of Winter Haven | $125,000 |
| March 27-29 | IOA Championship Presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa | Beaumont, Calif. | Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon | $150,000 |
| April 2-4 | Windsor Golf Classic | Windsor, Calif. | Windsor Golf Club | $150,000 |
| May 7-9 | IOA Invitational | Milton, Ga. | Atlanta National Golf Club | $150,000 |
| May 13-15 | Symetra Classic | Davidson, NC | River Run Country Club | $175,000 |
| May 20-23 | Zimmer Biomet Championship | Auburn, Ala. | Lake Course at Grand National (RTJ Golf Trail) | $300,000 |
| May 29-31 | The CDPHP Open | Albany, NY | Capital Hills at Albany | $150,000 |
| June 12-14 | Four Winds Invitational | South Bend, Ind. | Blackthorn Golf Club | $150,000 |
| June 19-21 | Island Resort Championship | Harris, Mich. | Sweetgrass Golf Club | $200,000 |
| June 26-28 | Prasco Charity Championship | Cincinnati, Ohio | TPC River’s Bend | $175,000 |
| July 9-11 | Donald Ross Classic at French Lick Resort | French Lick, Ind. | French Lick Resort | $225,000 |
| July 16-19 | Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic | Rochester, NY | Brook Lea Country Club | $175,000 |
| July 24-26 | FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship | Battle Creek, Mich. | Battle Creek Country Club | $175,000 |
| Aug. 7-9 | PHC Classic | Milwaukee, Wis. | Brown Deer Park Golf Course | $125,000 |
| Aug. 14-16 | Garden City Charity Classic at Buffalo Dunes | Garden City, Kan. | Buffalo Dunes Golf Club | $175,000 |
| Aug. 28-30 | Circling Raven Championship | Worley, Idaho | Circling Raven Golf Club | $200,000 |
| Sept. 3-5 | Copper Rock Championship | Hurricane, Utah | Copper Rock Golf Course | $200,000 |
| Sept. 18-20 | Guardian Championship | Prattville, Ala. | Capitol Hill Golf Club | $175,000 |
| Sept. 25-27 | IOA Golf Classic | Longwood, Fla. | Alaqua Country Club | $175,000 |
| Oct. 1-4 | Symetra Tour Championship | Daytona Beach, Fla. | LPGA International, Jones Course | $250,000 |
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