Latest news with #TommyTangtiphaiboontana
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
LPGA launches new college program that provides direct route to Epson Tour
There's now an easier way for the best collegiate players to enter the professional game. On Wednesday, the LPGA rolled out its new LPGA Collegiate Advancement Pathway (LCAP), a program that creates a direct route to the Epson Tour. The top 10 players in the new LCAP rankings – which will include Division I college tournaments as well as non-collegiate events recognized by the World Amateur Golf Ranking – will receive Epson Tour status as well as exemptions through the tour's LPGA Qualifying series. The new system will save players thousands in LPGA Q-School fees and could encourage some to stay in school longer. Advertisement The new program places an emphasis on academic requirements. To be eligible for LCAP, players must meet one of the following criteria: Option A: Exhaust four seasons of competition as defined by NCAA B: Complete four years of collegiate academics, including a minimum of two seasons C: Provide documented intent and evidence of early graduation, including a minimum of twoseasons of competition. Tommy Tangtiphaiboontana, the LPGA's SVP of tour operations, said that in creating the new program, the tour analyzed the makeup of the Epson Tour and found that 82 percent of the top 80 over the past four years played college golf. And of those 82 percent, they averaged 3.79 years at school. The new LCAP ranking system will debut sometime later this year, and the top 10 will be determined following the conclusion of the 2026 NCAA Championship. Players who wish to be eligible for the LCAP must submit an application by July 22 at noon ET. The tour outlined the following benefits for those who finish in the top 10:No. 1• Epson Tour Priority List status in Category D for the remainder of the 2026 season and the following season (2027).• Exemption to Final Qualifying Stage of the 2026 LPGA Q-Series, providing the opportunity to improve Advertisement Nos. 2–5• Epson Tour Priority List status in Category D for the remainder of the 2026 season and the following season (2027).• Exemption to Qualifying Stage (formerly Stage 2) of 2026 LPGA Q-Series. Nos. 6–10• Epson Tour Priority List status in Category L for the remainder of the 2026 season and the following season (2027).• Exemption to Qualifying Stage of 2026 LPGA Q-Series. Tangtiphaiboontana said that Category D and Category L status for this year would've gotten players into all remaining priority events of the season (10 events) following NCAAs, excluding the last three tournaments of the season, which are filled via the Race for the Card points system. Players could be eligible for those events as well, based on performance. Last fall, the tour launched its LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP) program, which provides top amateur female golfers a way to get on the LPGA starting in 2025. No. 1-ranked Lottie Woad is well on her way to becoming the first to earn a card. This article originally appeared on Golfweek: LPGA launches college program that provides direct route to Epson Tour
USA Today
02-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
LPGA launches new college program that provides direct route to Epson Tour
There's now an easier way for the best collegiate players to enter the professional game. On Wednesday, the LPGA rolled out its new LPGA Collegiate Advancement Pathway (LCAP), a program that creates a direct route to the Epson Tour. The top 10 players in the new LCAP rankings – which will include Division I college tournaments as well as non-collegiate events recognized by the World Amateur Golf Ranking – will receive Epson Tour status as well as exemptions through the tour's LPGA Qualifying series. The new system will save players thousands in LPGA Q-School fees and could encourage some to stay in school longer. The new program places an emphasis on academic requirements. To be eligible for LCAP, players must meet one of the following criteria: Option A: Exhaust four seasons of competition as defined by NCAA B: Complete four years of collegiate academics, including a minimum of two seasons C: Provide documented intent and evidence of early graduation, including a minimum of twoseasons of competition. Tommy Tangtiphaiboontana, the LPGA's SVP of tour operations, said that in creating the new program, the tour analyzed the makeup of the Epson Tour and found that 82 percent of the top 80 over the past four years played college golf. And of those 82 percent, they averaged 3.79 years at school. The new LCAP ranking system will debut sometime later this year, and the top 10 will be determined following the conclusion of the 2026 NCAA Championship. Players who wish to be eligible for the LCAP must submit an application by July 22 at noon ET. The tour outlined the following benefits for those who finish in the top 10:No. 1• Epson Tour Priority List status in Category D for the remainder of the 2026 season and the following season (2027).• Exemption to Final Qualifying Stage of the 2026 LPGA Q-Series, providing the opportunity to improve Nos. 2–5• Epson Tour Priority List status in Category D for the remainder of the 2026 season and the following season (2027).• Exemption to Qualifying Stage (formerly Stage 2) of 2026 LPGA Q-Series. Nos. 6–10• Epson Tour Priority List status in Category L for the remainder of the 2026 season and the following season (2027).• Exemption to Qualifying Stage of 2026 LPGA Q-Series. Tangtiphaiboontana said that Category D and Category L status for this year would've gotten players into all remaining priority events of the season (10 events) following NCAAs, excluding the last three tournaments of the season, which are filled via the Race for the Card points system. Players could be eligible for those events as well, based on performance. Last fall, the tour launched its LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP) program, which provides top amateur female golfers a way to get on the LPGA starting in 2025. No. 1-ranked Lottie Woad is well on her way to becoming the first to earn a card.
USA Today
22-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
LPGA announces changes to its qualifying sites for 2025, making it easier on players
LPGA announces changes to its qualifying sites for 2025, making it easier on players The LPGA has announced the dates for its 2025 Qualifying Series along with a new twist. The first stage, now known as Pre-Qualifying, will be held Sept. 24-26 but will have three different locations players can choose from: Indian Wells Golf and Country Club in Indian Wells, California; LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Florida; and Denton Country Club in Argyle, Texas. The first stage of LPGA qualifying has long been held at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, over several different courses. Last year's event was held at both the Dinah Shore and Arnold Palmer courses as well as the Classic course at Indian Wells Country Club. More than 300 players signed up for pre-qualifying in 2024. The first stage also moved from its traditional August timeframe to late September, moving it closer to Qualifying (formerly Stage 2), which will be held Oct. 15-18 once again at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida. Final Qualifying will be held Dec. 4-8 at Magnolia Grove Golf Course in Mobile, Alabama. The changes should prove cost-saving for players and give them more flexibility. It's also easier to learn one course rather than three. 'The changes to the LPGA Q-Series structure, specifically the Pre-Qualifying stage, were made based on feedback on timing and location," said Tommy Tangtiphaiboontana, the LPGA's Senior Vice President of Tournament Operations, in a release. "The three-site model for Pre-Qualifying accommodates players in different regions, minimizes wait time for athletes advancing from Pre-Qualifying to Qualifying and allows the LPGA to utilize one course for each competition to improve player preparation for the event." The number of players that advance out of each Pre-Qualifying site will be determined based on the number of entries for each location. The top 25 players and ties at Final Qualifying will earn LPGA Tour cards for the 2026 season. All players who complete at least the second stage will earn Epson Tour eligibility for 2026.
