To say that Kristen Gillman needed a miracle to regain her place on the LPGA Tour would be an understatement.
The former Lake Travis standout has struggled with her confidence in recent years, especially after finishing 43rd on the money list during her rookie season in 2018. However, at the Epson Tour Championship last week on the LPGA International Jones Course in Daytona Beach, Florida, Gillman faced a do-or-die situation. She needed to climb from 13th to 10th on the money list to secure full exemption for the 2024 LPGA season, and as the final day progressed, the pressure continued to mount.
In a remarkable display of skill, Gillman executed an aggressive 6-iron shot on the par-3 17th hole, leaving her with an 8-foot putt for birdie. Then, on the par-5 18th, she hit a 4-hybrid from 196 yards, setting up a 5-foot eagle putt, which she drained with confidence.
This birdie-eagle finish catapulted the 26-year-old Gillman into the 10th and final spot on the money list, securing her full-time LPGA status for the upcoming season.
“I feel like it hasn’t really sunk in,” Gillman admitted in an interview with Golfweek. “I’ve been on the outside looking in all season long.”
Preparing for her LPGA comeback
In addition to her remarkable achievement, Gillman’s $12,177 payout at the championship boosted her total earnings for the season to $95,701. This placed her just $1,700 ahead of Becca Huffer, who finished 11th.
Despite her recent struggles, Gillman insists that she has been striking the ball well but lacked confidence. In the past 18 months, she resumed working with swing coach Justin Poynter, and although her boyfriend, mini-tour player Trevor Bailey, served as her caddie in Daytona, Gillman spent most of the season grinding it out on her own with a pushcart.
Gillman’s confidence started to shift after a runner-up finish in August at the French Lick Resort Charity Classic. She finished the season strong with six consecutive top-15 finishes, including three top-4 finishes in her last three starts.
“If anything, I’m mentally stronger now,” Gillman asserted as she looks ahead to her return to the LPGA Tour.
Texas-based company expands golf presence
Dallas-based Arcis Golf is set to acquire Champions Retreat, a private golf club in Evans, Georgia. This exclusive club, known for hosting the first two rounds of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur each year, features three nine-hole courses designed by legendary golfers Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player. The sale, expected to be finalized on Friday, will add to Arcis Golf’s portfolio of nearly 70 private, resort, and daily-fee clubs across the United States, including three properties in Austin: River Place Country Club, Twin Creeks Country Club, and Onion Creek Club.
Noteworthy achievements and events
∙ Texas claimed its first 13-U National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship title at PGA Frisco’s Fields Ranch course. Among the victorious team members were Austin’s Beckett McLaughlin and Dallas-based golfer Lincoln Rubis, who has garnered attention for recording three holes-in-one within a 22-day span. Rubis has been working with Jordan Spieth’s childhood coach.
∙ Lexi Thompson, coming off a top-5 finish in Texas, will transition to the PGA Tour. Although she fell short of winning her first LPGA title in four years at the 2023 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America, Thompson’s performance at the Old American Golf Club has boosted her confidence as she prepares to compete in the Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas. She will become the seventh woman to participate in a PGA Tour event.
∙ The 27th Hannon Cup Matches, a Ryder Cup-style event between professionals and amateurs, will take place at Driftwood Golf and Ranch Club. The dates were shifted by one day to accommodate the participation of former Texas star and Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee.
Tim Schmitt is the managing editor for Golfweek, golf coordinator for the USA Today Network, and resides in Round Rock. Beth Ann Nichols contributed to this report.
This article was originally published on Austin American-Statesman: Kristen Gillman’s final-round 64 last week won her a LPGA Tour card
Daniel Miller takes readers to the greens with his passion for golf. He offers coverage of major golf tournaments, player achievements, and insights into the sport’s rich history, making him a trusted source for golf enthusiasts.
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