Yana Wilson showed impressive skill at the LPGA Qualifying tournament with a third-round score of 67, moving her up from 71st to 25th on the leaderboard. The top 35 players and ties will advance to the Final Qualifying in December. The 18-year-old Wilson, who chose to forgo college golf at Oregon in favor of turning professional, expressed both relief and determination to improve her game after missing a few key putts in her round.
As an AJGA Player of the Year in 2020, Wilson entered the tournament with no expectations but saw it as a valuable opportunity to kickstart her professional career on the Epson Tour. While her main goal was to grow her game early, Wilson acknowledged that earning LPGA status was a welcome Plan B. As the tournament progresses, Wilson remains focused on honing her skills and preparing for the challenges ahead.
UCLA’s Zoe Campos emerged as the overnight leader after carding a stellar third-round 66, securing a three-shot lead over reigning NCAA champion Adela Cernousek. Both players, currently amateurs, are required to turn professional to compete in Final Qualifying. Campos leads the field at 15 under, with Cernousek close behind at 12 under. The deadline for amateurs to turn professional is rapidly approaching, adding an extra layer of suspense to the tournament.
Several other notable players hover around the cut line of 3 under, including Wake Forest’s Rachel Kuehn, Latanna Stone, and Amari Avery. Among the competitors is transgender golfer Hailey Davidson, who improved her position with a solid third-round performance. Davidson currently shares the 92nd spot at 2 over for the tournament, striving to secure a competitive edge and advance in the rankings.
All players who complete four rounds at Plantation will earn Epson Tour status, marking a significant milestone in their professional careers. Davidson could potentially become the second transgender golfer to achieve status on the developmental circuit, following in the footsteps of Bobbi Lancaster in 2013. As the tournament progresses and the competition intensifies, each player faces unique challenges and opportunities to showcase their skills and determination on the course.
