The LPGA announced this Wednesday the launch of the LPGA Collegiate Advancement Pathway (LCAP), a new programme that will facilitate access to the Epson Tour and the Qualifying School (Q-School) for the most outstanding collegiate golfers.
Starting in the summer of 2025, ten senior collegiate players will receive some form of status to compete on the Epson Tour, in addition to exemptions for the various stages of the LPGA School. The initiative follows the successful PGA Tour University model, which grants status within the PGA Tour structure to 25 graduates each season.
LCAP also complements the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP), a programme announced last year that allows amateur golfers to earn a tour card if they reach certain milestones, similar to the PGA Tour U Accelerated. Current Florida State player, Lottie Woad, is very close to becoming the first LEAP graduate, with 18 of the 20 points needed.
Although the final details are still being finalised, the LCAP ranking system will combine results in collegiate and non-collegiate tournaments recognised by the World Amateur Golf Ranking, in a two-year cycle culminating with the Nationals of the final academic year. Among the players most likely to top the first ranking are Megha Ganne (Stanford), Catherine Park (USC), or Kary Hollenbaugh (Ohio State). It remains to be seen how it can help them because at the moment the information is insufficient. Moreover, it is not even clear if it starts this year and the exemptions will be given from next summer or if they will already be given this summer with the recent graduates. Given this uncertainty, it is not possible to know, for example, if Carla Bernat and Carolina López Chacarra could already apply for one of those places this summer. It seems that this summer is the first to sign up, but the exemptions will be given from the next.
Programme benefits: status and exemptions
The prizes for the top ten ranked players will be as follows:
No. 1 in the ranking: full status on the Epson Tour (Category D) for the remainder of the season and the next, in addition to exemption for the final stage of the Q-School (Q-Series).
Positions 2 to 5: same status on the Epson Tour and exemption for the second stage of the Q-School.
Positions 6 to 10: Category L status for one and a half seasons on the Epson Tour and exemption for the second stage of the Q-School. These players will be below the reshuffle category, although they are expected to access most of the tournaments the summer after graduating.
The data supporting the new model
As explained by Tommy Tangtiphaiboontana, senior vice president of tour operations, the LCAP is based on recent data: 44% of the top 80 LPGA players in the last four years played collegiate golf, while that percentage rises to 82% in the Epson Tour. Moreover, most of them stayed in college for four years before making the leap.
A recent case is Ingrid Lindblad, an LSU star, who after winning 15 collegiate tournaments and the Annika Award in 2024, debuted on the Epson Tour with a victory and four top-10 finishes in nine tournaments, finishing sixth in the ranking and earning an LPGA card. She has already won as a rookie on the main tour. “We see the Epson Tour as the main pathway to the LPGA,” explained Tangtiphaiboontana. “Each year it gets stronger thanks to increased prizes. The data shows that those who play on Epson have more sustained success on the LPGA. With this programme, we want to offer a clear path to those who have already shown competitive level so they don’t have to go through the entire Q-School.”
An alternative to not leaving studies
The programme also seeks to offer incentives for players to stay one more year in college, without losing their professional opportunity. “Having a guaranteed place on the Epson Tour for a year and a half can make a player decide to finish their studies with more peace of mind,” added Tangtiphaiboontana.
Although for now the programme does not include the direct granting of LPGA cards, the vice president does not rule out that this could change if the system justifies it and has the support of the tour players. “This is just a foundation to build on. If in the future the conditions are met, we could grant an LPGA card through the LCAP,” he concluded.
