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USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Who will be the next amateur to earn an LPGA card through LEAP? The next month is crucial
Lottie Woad became the first amateur to graduate from the tour's new LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP) program and will make her pro debut next week in Scotland. So, who's next? The LPGA designed the program with the idea that only amateurs with exceptional records would reach the threshold of 20 points. Last November, when the tour outlined the new program to its membership, officials noted that in the past 12 years, Lydia Ko, Leona Maguire and Rose Zhang were the only players who would've earned enough points to qualify for a card. The LPGA didn't want this to necessarily be an annual thing – more like every three to four years. Before Woad won the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur, she had only one LEAP point from the 2023 Arnold Palmer Cup. She earned two points with the ANWA victory and that came with a host of major championship starts, which Woad took advantage of with top-25 finishes in the 2024 Chevron Championship and 2024 AIG Women's British Open. When she reached No. 1 amateur in the world, she earned another three points, and the 2024 Mark H. McCormack Medal garnered another four. In all, Woad earned 19 points in the span of 15 months. Woad turned professional this week, which means she'll drop off the rankings, as former No. 2 Mirabel Ting did after making her pro debut last week at Evian. The next month is crucial for accumulating points as the McCormack Medal will be decided after the U.S. Women's Amateur at Bandon Dunes, which ends Aug. 10. The medal comes with four points and exemptions into the U.S. Women's Open and AIG Women's British Open. A player could reach No. 1 for the first time and win the medal in short order, taking a total of seven LEAP points. Winning the U.S. Women's Amateur earns two points and a chance to play in four majors. Oregon's Kiara Romera currently ranks No. 2 in WAGR, but it's worth noting that her 2023 U.S. Girls' Junior title will soon roll off the two-year window. Two Spanish players who play for Stanford – Andrea Revuelta Goicoechea and Paula Martin Sampedro – are Nos. 3 and 4, respectively. Martin Sampedro has an exemption into the Women's British at Royal Portrush for her win at the 2025 Women's British Amateur. As for the current LEAP standings, Anna Davis now leads the way with nine points. Maria Jose Marin is second with eight and Jasmine Koo has seven. Kiara Romero, Rachel Heck (who has no intent on turning pro) and Catherine Park have six points. The window for earning LEAP points is any given year, plus the previous three calendar years.
Khaleej Times
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
A star is born: Lottie Woad's breakthrough victory signals arrival of amateur sensation
When a 21-year-old amateur not only wins a professional golf tournament but does so by a stunning six-shot margin, it's time for the golf world to sit up and take notice. Enter Lottie Woad, England's rising star, who captured the KPMG Women's Irish Open on the Ladies European Tour with an extraordinary display of skill and composure. Lottie's journey to this breakthrough has been swift and impressive. Her amateur career has been studded with remarkable achievements, marking her out as one of the brightest prospects in women's golf. After clinching the Surrey Ladies County Championship in 2019, Woad's rise accelerated dramatically. Now, as a standout player for Florida State University, her list of accolades reads like a checklist of golfing excellence. Stacking Up the Accolades 2023 ACC Freshman of the Year 2023 WGCA Freshman of the Year 2024 FSU Female Athlete of the Year 2024 ACC Golfer of the Year 2024 Mark H. McCormack Medal By June 2024, she had reached the pinnacle of amateur golf, becoming the world's number one-ranked player in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR). Earlier that year, she also triumphed at the prestigious Augusta National Women's Amateur. Lottie has already proven her mettle on golf's biggest stages, competing in every major she's eligible for and securing a best finish of tied 10th at the 2024 AIG Women's Open. She's also been a vital part of team events like the 2023 Espirito Santo Trophy in Abu Dhabi and the 2025 Patsy Hankins Trophy, representing England and Europe with distinction. Her performance in Abu Dhabi was notable: fourth place in the three-player team event and tied fourth individually, finishing nine under par. Dominance on Irish Soil But it was in Ireland where Woad truly announced herself. Over 72 holes, she racked up 24 birdies against just three bogeys, finishing 21 under par to dominate a field packed with Solheim Cup stars, LPGA veterans, and LET winners. What stood out even more than the score was her calm, confident demeanour under pressure, a quality that sets the great apart from the good. Already a sought-after talent with a dedicated management team behind her, Lottie exemplifies the new wave of amateurs who are ready to compete and win at the highest professional level, sometimes even before officially turning pro. Asked about turning professional after her victory, Woad was measured: 'No, I'm not tempted to turn pro yet. I'm still trying to get my final two points for the LPGA. I'm trying to get those, and then we will see what happens after that.' Those 'two points' refer to the LPGA's Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP), where 20 points are required for full membership, a goal Lottie is steadily chasing. Respect From the Elite Praise from established pros only underlines her potential. Solheim Cup star Madelene Sagstrom, who played alongside Woad in the final round, said: 'It was Lottie's week; it was wonderful to watch her play. I played a bunch of golf with her. I'm really happy with her and she's going to take European and American golf by storm very soon.' The weeks ahead will test her further. Next up is the fourth major of the year in France, with a packed schedule of important tournaments looming. But whatever happens, Lottie Woad will never forget her first professional victory in Ireland, a milestone that feels like just the beginning of an exciting career. The large crowds, the pressure of victory celebrations, dealing with the media, sponsors, and the sea of young fans eager for autographs alongside top names like Charley Hull and Georgia Hall, Woad handled it all with grace beyond her years. It's a promising sign for the future of ladies' golf. We'll be watching closely as Lottie's journey continues. Good luck, Lottie - the golf world is ready for you.
Irish Examiner
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Gavin Tiernan to face Ethan Fang in the 130th Amateur Championship final
Gavin Tiernan will take on Ethan Fang from the United States in the 36-hole final of the 130th Amateur Championship at Royal St George on Saturday. Tiernan and Fang are the final two left standing out of a field of 288 players in the prestigious championship winning their quarter-final and semi-final matches at a sunny Sandwich Bay today. Fang is ranked seventh in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) and is looking to become the first American since Drew Weaver in 2007 to lift the coveted trophy. Tiernan sits 1333 places futher down the WAGR and is the first player that came through the pre-qualifying to reach the final. Tiernan had a longer week than his American counterpart having played 139-holes to reach the final. The 19 year old has been taken to the 18th hole in all three of his matches this week including his quarter-final this morning against Estonia's Richard Teder. Tiernan was behind throughout and managed to square the match with a well-timed birdie at the 16th before a bogey from Teder on the 18th allowed Tiernan to progress in the Championship. Tiernan only needed 15 holes to win his semi-final match against Italy's Riccardo Fantinelli this afternoon. It was all square at the turen before Tiernan pulled away with consistent play on the 10th, 12th, 14th, and 15th holes for a comfortable 4&3 win. Speaking after reaching the final Tiernan said 'If you'd told me at the start of the week I'd be in the final, I would have been over the moon. I'm just really enjoying it, taking it one shot at a time, and just having fun out there. That's all I'm trying to do. 'I hit it way better this afternoon. Off the tee I was way better. I hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens. I think this morning it was a little bit scrappier but this morning was tighter, as well. I wasn't up the whole match until 18 when I won. 'You don't need to go and take a ton of birdies. If you're hitting it to the middle of the green all the time, you're just going to bore them to death. That's what I've been trying to do this week, and it's worked so far. 'In my head, I'm the best player here. It might not be the truth, but that's what I believe. It doesn't really matter who I'm playing against. Really I'm just playing against the golf course. Playing against myself really.' Fang had a comfortable route to the final with a 5&4 win over Finland's Veikka Viskari in the semi-final following his morning win over France's Callixte Alzas twhere he overcame a two-down deficit to win by as many. FINAL BOOKED: Ethan Fang of USA tees off during the Quarter Finals on Day Five of The Amateur Championship at Royal St. George's Golf Club on June 20, 2025 in Sandwich, England. Pic: Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images Fang is looking forward to taking on Tiernan in the final. 'I think each day as I win a match, it gets that much closer to what the whole Championship is. It's just really hard not to (think about the champion's exemptions), especially because I'm 36 holes away from it. I'll just try to stay present and just do everything I've been doing. 'I took a pretty long look on that board over there with the trophies and all those names. I saw Sergio won it. It's cool to see all those professional players come out here and win it, and now I'm doing the same thing, and hopefully have their accomplishments on Tour. 'The Championship is not over, but I think after tomorrow we'll celebrate either way because it's been a good week." Tiernan and Fang will go head-to-head in the 36-hole final at 8.32am playing for the Amateur Champion title and entry to the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush, the US Open and by tradition an invitation to the Masters Tournament. The winner will also earn a place at the Betfred British Masters which Nick Faldo hosts on the DP World Tour.
USA Today
20-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Predicting the 10-man United States roster for the 2025 Walker Cup at Cypress Point
The 50th Walker Cup at Cypress Point is around the corner. On Friday, the top three Americans in the World Amateur Golf Ranking secured their spots on the U.S. squad for the biennial competition between the top amateurs from the United States against their counterparts from Great Britain and Ireland. The full 10-man roster will be announced following the conclusion of the U.S. Amateur, set for Aug. 11-17 at Olympic Club in San Francisco. That means the clock is ticking for golfers to play their way onto the team. With a majority of the major amateur events still on the calendar, there is plenty of time for those on the bubble and on the outside looking in to show captain Nathan Smith why they deserve a chance to wear the red, white and blue. Here's a look at predictions for who will round out the 10-man U.S. Walker Cup team (WAGR ranking in parentheses). On the team Jackson Koivun (No. 1) Ben James (No. 2) Michael La Sasso (No. 3) The trio earned their spots on the team thanks to their WAGR rankings Friday. James will be the only returning member on the U.S. team, having gone 1-2-0 at St. Andrews in 2023, helping the U.S. win at the home of golf. Koivun swept national Player of the Year honors in 2024 and maintained a high level of play this season for Auburn, and La Sasso won the NCAA individual title at Omni La Costa last month, putting an exclamation mark on a stellar junior season. Locks Tommy Morrison (No. 5) Ethan Fang (No. 7) Preston Stout (No. 8) It's hard to see Morrison (OK, not really, he is 6-foot-9), Fang and Stout not making the team. All are proven match-play golfers, with Fang and Stout helping Oklahoma State take the NCAA Championship last month at Omni La Costa. Morrison made match play last summer at the U.S. Amateur, the Amateur Championship and won the European Amateur. Expect to see these three donning red, white and blue in September. Fang and Morrison also made match play at this week's Amateur Championship. Mid-Am representative Evan Beck (No. 18) Beck, who won the 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur, is almost guaranteed to get the mid-am spot on the team, barring a late run from Stewart Hagestad, who is 55th in WAGR. On the bubble Jase Summy (No. 9) Jack Turner (No. 11) Josiah Gilbert (No. 14) Wells Williams (No. 17) Jacob Modleski (No. 20) Max Herendeen (No. 22) Bryan Lee (No. 23) With three more spots up for grabs, there's a good chance those names come from this list. Jase Summy could be considered a lock, but as far as WAGR points, he's closer to this group than he is Morrison, Fang and Stout, but he has a big advantage on the rest of the group, especially with a strong summer leading into the U.S. Amateur. As for the rest of the group, it's open season. Have a big summer, and Smith could have no choice but to select you for a spot on the team. Don't play well, and that door slams shut. Outside chance Connor Williams (No. 24) Cameron Tankersley (No. 26) Miles Russell (No. 28) Lance Simpson (No. 30) Ryder Cowan (No. 33) The most intriguing name in this group is Russell, the 16-year-old junior phenom whose name has been floated around all year as a player who could be selected. He would become the youngest Walker Cup participant ever if Smith selected him. This spring, he won four of five junior starts, including the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley. If his strong play continues, it may be worth selecting him. As for the others, if they could win an Elite Amateur Golf Series event this summer and make a run in the Western Amateur or U.S. Amateur, they may have a tee time at Cypress Point in September.
USA Today
20-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USGA announces first 3 selections for 2025 U.S. Walker Cup team, including No. 1 amateur
USGA announces first 3 selections for 2025 U.S. Walker Cup team, including No. 1 amateur The Waker Cup is less than three months away, and on Friday, the U.S. Golf Association announced the first three selections for the United States squad. Jackson Koivun, Ben James and Michael La Sasso will each don the red, white and blue Sept. 6-7 and Cypress Point, site of the 50th Walker Cup. The biennial match between the top amateurs from the United States and those from Great Britain and Ireland takes place Sept. 6-7 at famed Cypress Point in California, which ranks No. 1 in Golfweek's Best Classic Courses. The three earned automatic spots on the Walker Cup team thanks to being the highest-ranked Americans in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. All three players competed in last week's U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. James, a rising senior at Virginia, is making his second Walker Cup appearance, having competed on the 2023 team that won at St. Andrews, going 1-2-0. He helped the Cavaliers advance to the championship match at NCAAs and is the likely No 1 when the PGA Tour University Class of 2026 rankings are announced this summer. He's ranked second in WAGR. Koivun, the top-ranked amateur in the world, earned his PGA Tour card with a T-4 finish at NCAAs, but his stellar season came as a freshman when he swept the major postseason awards: the Fred Haskins, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson. He's returning to Auburn for his junior season and will turn pro after NCAAs next May. La Sasso had a standout junior season for Ole Miss, culminating in him winning the NCAA individual title at Omni La Costa. He was a finalist for the Haskins Award, the Heisman Trophy of college golf, and is ranked third in WAGR. The Walker Cup is a two-day event with 18 singles matches and eight foursomes matches. The U.S. leads the overall series, 39-9-1, though its advantage is only 11-7 since 1989.
