Field Breakdown: 2026 Lake Charles Regional Sports Authority Championship
The 2026 ANNIKA Women’s All Pro Tour season will kick off with the Lake Charles Regional Sports Authority Championship, taking place April 8-11, at Contraband Bayou Golf Club in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The event marks its fourth year at L’Auberge Casino Resort, where a field of more than 130 players will compete for a share of the $55,000 purse and 500 points towards Callaway Race To Qualifying standings.
Here are some names to watch this week:
Michaela Morard
Defending champion Michaela Morard returns to Contraband Bayou Golf Club looking to build on the momentum of her first professional victory, which came at this event in 2025. Morard followed her win with a strong season, recording five top-15 finishes, including a tie for fifth at the Heritage Classic Tour Championship.
She also had six starts on the Epson Tour in 2025, making two cuts and earning a tie for 19th at the Guardian Championship.
The University of Southern California alum is also a well decorated player for her home state of Alabama. She captured nine career Alabama Golf Association State titles, including Alabama Girls State Junior Champion (2015, 2017-2020), Alabama Women’s State Amateur Champion (2019), Alabama Women’s Stroke Play Champion (2016 and 2018), and Alabama Women’s Four-Ball Champion in 2015.
Honorine Nobuta Ferry
At just 16 years old, Honorine Nobuta Ferry will be the youngest player in the field. The accomplished amateur has already competed in two LPGA Tour events at the LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei, held on her home island of Oahu.
Ferry had quite the AJGA season with two wins in 2025, capturing victories at the PING Invitational and the Mizuno Junior Championship, along with two T3 finishes at the Scott Robertson Memorial and The Nelly Invitational Presented by Chevron.
She also competed in the 2025 Heritage Classic Tour Championship, finishing tied for 13th at 1-under par.
Jackie Lucena
Jackie Lucena is another highly anticipated player for the 2026 season. With four top-10 finishes during the 2025 ANNIKA WAPT year, Lucena was able to grab her first professional win at the United Way Classic, along with a runner-up finish at the Coke Dr Pepper Open and tie for third at the Lake Charles Regional Sports Authority Championship.
The University of Florida alum joined the Epson Tour as a rookie in 2025, competing in eight events with three cuts made. Now entering her second year on Epson, the 24-year-old continues her Race for the Card with two cuts already made at the IOA Golf Classic and Atlantic Beach Classic presented by Access Golf.
The top two finishers at the Lake Charles Regional Sports Authority Championship will earn exemptions into the Epson Tour’s IOA Championship in Beaumont, Calif., April 20-26th.
Marissa McCardell
ANNIKA WAPT Media & Communications
