Two Epson Tour professionals – Margarita Ramos and Savannah Vilaubi – Monday Qualified for the Kia Classic in Carlsbad on Monday. Both were scheduled to compete in the IOA Championship in Beaumont, but will now play on the LPGA. In a field of 60 players competing for two spots at Aviara Golf Club, Ramos took medalist honors with a 4-under, 68 while Vilaubi grabbed the second spot with a 3-under, 69.
Ramos, who had her mental Usecoach Austin as her caddie, will make her first LPGA start.
“I’m extremely proud of the great round I shot yesterday and having Austin on the bag made a big difference,” said Ramos, who played college golf at Arizona. “I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to play against the best players in the world. This is what we work for and dream of. I’m also excited because my parents will be able to come and watch me play."
Vilaubi, a Downey, Calif. native and former UC-Riverside star, will also make her first LPGA Tour start in Southern California.
“I’m over the moon excited to have qualified for the Kia Classic,” said Vilaubi. “My caddy and I knew it would take a lot of patience on the course, so we made sure to stick to our process and keep it simple out there."
Epson Tour professional Hye Min Kim finished one shot back of Vilaubi with a 70.
This is the second tournament in a row that two Epson Tour professionals qualified. Augusta James and Kaylin Yost qualified last week for the LPGA Founders Cup. Yost made the cut in her LPGA debut.
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