The college golf landscape is shifting again as three top amateur stars are leaving school early to chase their pro dreams.
Julia Lopez Ramirez, Zoe Campos, and Adela Cernousek – all ranked in the world’s top 10 amateurs – have decided to turn pro and take their shot at earning LPGA Tour cards next month.
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It’s a tough blow for their college teams, who are losing some of their best players halfway through the season.
The three stars will compete in the LPGA Final Qualifying tournament December 5-9, where the top 25 players earn their LPGA cards for next season. It’s basically the biggest test in women’s golf – five rounds that can make or break a career.
Not everyone is making the jump though. UCLA’s Caroline Canales and Western Kentucky’s Catie Craig are staying in school, putting their pro careers on hold until after the college season ends.
This has become a pretty common story in college golf. Since 2018, 24 players have left their teams mid-season to turn pro. The rules changed last year, forcing players to make a tough choice: turn pro now or wait until after the college season to use their tour status.
The impact on college teams is huge. Mississippi State (ranked 10th nationally), Texas A&M (17th), and UCLA (28th) are now scrambling to adjust their lineups. UCLA’s situation is especially tough – they’re down to just seven players, and two haven’t even played this season.
“Our golf program here at Mississippi State is very different now than it was before Julia arrived,” said Mississippi State coach Charlie Ewing. His star player, Lopez Ramirez, leaves as one of just four players in SEC history to win multiple conference titles.
Campos knew she was ready for this move, making her decision even before qualifying. “I do feel ready for the next step,” she said.
Cernousek’s decision was more surprising. She initially planned to stay at Texas A&M but changed her mind, deciding the chance at an LPGA card was too good to pass up. She leaves as the only Aggie ever to win an NCAA title while averaging under 71 strokes per round.
The LPGA is planning to announce new programs similar to PGA Tour University, offering spots on the developmental Epson Tour to top college seniors. But with the chance at immediate LPGA status on the line, it might not be enough to keep the best players in school.
For these young stars, the next chapter begins in December. Five rounds of golf that could change their lives forever.
