The 2023 season was one of growth for Baylor University alum Gurleen Kaur. Starting on the Women’s All Pro Tour (WAPT) in early April, Kaur played her way into No. 3 in the Race to Stage II. She also finished second at the FCA Women’s Championship in May to earn a few sponsor exemptions later in the Epson Tour season. Despite only making two of five cuts on the Epson Tour, the 23-year-old showed her talent late in the year, finishing T18 at the Circling Raven Championship and T2 at the Epson Tour Championship.
Fast forward a bit and Kaur has not only advanced through Stage II of the LPGA and Epson Qualifying Tournament but also finished T5 at LPGA Q-Series, earning full status on the LPGA Tour in 2024. Reflecting on the past year, which threw her some curveballs, Kaur can’t help but smile and be grateful that it all worked out.
“It's crazy, because this time last year I missed the cut at Stage I and didn't have any sort of status, so to be able to play as much as I could, as the year went on -- I was supposed to play (Ladies European Tour) all summer and then injury, and so I ended up just playing WAPT, so I think it was still good preparation for me,” said Kaur, “I didn't expect to have such a good finish. I think the more golf that I'm playing the better I keep progressing. I think it's such a blessing to be here, and I'm just really excited for next year.”
Kaur carded six straight under-par rounds at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Magnolia Grove, and the key to her success was the mindset she carried. The Epson Tour rookie says she learned that she plays her best golf when she’s trying to have fun, a lesson she’ll keep in mind as she prepares to tee it up among the best in the world next year.
“I'm so excited to have gotten my full status on the LPGA (Tour). You know, I really just came into this week with like no expectations and trying to play just as best as I could and almost treat it like any other tournament,” said Kaur. “But I was excited to get off to a good start and just keep playing as well as I could to the very last day.”
After such a quick jump to the top, Kaur will be a name to look out for on the LPGA Tour next season. The Texan will join 20 other familiar faces from the Epson Tour, including LPGA Q-Series medalist, Robyn Choi, on Tour next year.
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