LAKE ELMO, Minn. — Alicia Um Holmes is unsure what her roster is going to look like come springtime.
The women’s golf coach at UCLA had a runner-up finish at the 2024 NCAA Championship, and the Bruins returned four of their five players in the lineup from the championship match against Stanford. They also added one of the top female amateurs in the country, giving Um Holmes depth and experience to make another title push come spring.
She also may not have her best player, and one of the best in the country, past the fall season.
It’s an uncomfortable wait, but what other choice does Um Holmes have?
LPGA Q-Series is an event numerous college players compete in each fall, and plenty are left with a difficult choice if they advance to the final stage. LPGA rules stipulate that players must turn professional before the final stage begins in December, which means giving up the last few months of their amateur careers to chase status on the best professional tour for women in the world. Those who don’t earn an LPGA card will have Epson Tour status.
It’s a guaranteed landing spot, whereas staying in college doesn’t provide any direct avenues to the professional game.
Zoe Campos and Caroline Canales, seniors at UCLA, have advanced to second stage of LPGA Q-Series. With a win or top finish there, they would advance to final qualifying and also receive some status on the Epson Tour.
While Canales said she would come back to school and finish her final year, Campos told Um Holmes she would strongly consider turning professional. And how could a player like Campos, ranked fourth in the world, pass up that opportunity?
Men’s, women’s access to pro ranks
When you compare the men’s amateur game to the women’s, there are more opportunities for men to get to the professional ranks compared to the women. While the men’s game is deeper, the women’s game has grown, and the top amateurs each year are capable of making their mark on the biggest tours right away. They just don’t have the same access as the men, especially for collegiate players.
By all means, PGA Tour University has been a success. So, why isn’t there a similar program for the top women’s collegiate players?
“A lot of us coaches have certainly asked the question over the last few years,” said Oregon coach Derek Radley, who last year lost Briana Chacon when she turned pro after qualifying for final stage. “It has created an amazing dynamic on the men’s side, and why…
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