A U.S. player hasn’t won the Rookie of the Year Award since Paula Creamer in 2005.
This year’s rookie class of 26 players represents 12 countries, highlighting the global nature of the LPGA.
One of the most well-known rookies of the 2024 class is former U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Gabriela Ruffels, who many thought would be a veteran by now were it not for a paperwork error. The Aussie topped the Epson Tour’s money list to earn her card.
There are plenty of players who have won multiple titles on their home tours in this year’s class, including a teen from China.
The Class of 2024 includes only five Americans: Gurleen Kaur, Auston Kim, Kaitlin Milligan, Malia Nam and Gigi Still. A U.S. player hasn’t won the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Award since Paula Creamer in 2005.
Here are a dozen LPGA rookies to keep an eye on in 2023:
Two rounds remain in the 108-hole marathon at RTJ’s Magnolia Grove.
The field at LPGA Q-Series was cut to the top 65 and ties after the fourth round in Mobile, Alabama. A total of 70 players advanced. Two rounds remain in the 108-hole marathon at RTJ’s Magnolia Grove.
Australia’s Robyn Choi, No. 339 in the Rolex Rankings, leads the field by three strokes after carding back-to-back 64s. Choi, who hasn’t made a bogey in her last 57 holes, paces the field at 21-under 265. Japan’s Yuri Yoshida and Korea’s So Mi Lee both shot 65 in the fourth round and are tied for second at 18 under.
“I think I hit most greens,” said Choi, who last played on the LPGA in 2020. “I’m hitting them close as well, making the putts. Definitely making more than I have the last few months, so that’s good … just everything in general is clicking together, I think.”
Former U.S. Solheim Cup player Mina Harigae, who finished 101st on the CME points list, missing her full card by a single position, holds a share of fifth at 14 under.
Mina Harigae/LPGA photo
Former Clemson fifth-year senior Savannah Grewal shot 67 to remain in the top 10 at 13 under. Grewal, who recently turned professional to compete in Q-Series, medaled at the first stage of qualifying school and then opted to leave college after sailing through the second stage.
Over the past year, Grewal dropped four strokes off her scoring average in college golf.
“I think honestly, just knowing that I’m good enough to compete out here is a big thing,” said Grewal. “I think that helps with the confidence for sure.”
The top 45 and ties after 108 holes will earn 2024 LPGA eligibility, with players finishing 1-20 receiving a higher category of status.
The cut fell at 3 under. Notable players who missed the cut include Natthakritta Vongtaveelap, Emma Talley, Christina Kim, Emma Spitz and Su Oh.
The final round, originally scheduled for Tuesday, was pushed to Wednesday after three inches of rain fell on Saturday in Mobile, forcing Saturday’s third round to be postponed to Sunday.
The 108-hole grind that is the 2023 LPGA Q-Series will go to a seventh day.
The 108-hole grind that is the 2023 LPGA Q-Series will go to a seventh day.
Three inches of rain Saturday in Mobile, Alabama, led to the postponement of the third round, which had to roll over to Sunday. The final round will now happen Wednesday.
There are 104 golfers at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail competing for LPGA cards for the 2024 season. Robyn Choi of Australia leads the way at 13 under after 54 holes. She shot the lone 64 (7 under) at the Falls Course on Sunday. Three golfers – India’s Diksha Dagar, American Lauren Stephenson and Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe – posted 8-under 64s on the Crossings Course on Sunday.
Tied for second at 12 under, a shot back, are Japan’s Mao Saigo, Korea’s Hyo Joon Jang and Mira Harigae of the U.S., who finished 101st in the CME points, one spot out of earning a 2024 card. She also dropped from 49th to 120th in the Rolex Rankings. Rounds of 68-66-68 so far this week have her in solid position at Q-Series.
There will be a cut after the fourth round, which is now going to be on Monday, with the low 65 and ties advancing. The projected cut as of Sunday night is 3 under. Come Wednesday, the top 45 and ties will earn their cards. Any player who completes 72 holes will receive Epson Tour status.
The LPGA is sticking to the six-round schedule and also wants to “allow maintenance crews to prepare the golf courses and provide the fairest course conditions for the competition,” the tour said in a release.
The re-worked daily schedule, according to the LPGA, now looks like this:
Round 4 will start at 7:30 a.m. ET on Monday from No. 1 tee only
After round 4, the cut will be made of the top 65 players and ties
Round 5 will start at 7:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday on Crossings Course from No. 1 and 10 tee
Round 6 will start at 7:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday on Crossings Course from No. 1 and 10 tees
