University of Texas junior claims NCAA Division I individual title, ANNIKA Award and WGCA Player of the Year honors.

In the last three days, Farah O’Keefe has made some serious strides toward earning LPGA Tour Membership through the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP). On Monday, May 25, the University of Texas junior won the NCAA Division I women’s golf individual title by two shots. It was then announced on May 26 that O’Keefe had won the ANNIKA Award presented by Stifel. On Wednesday, she was named the PING Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) Player of the Year.

With each achievement, the 20-year-old earned two points in the LEAP standings, bringing her total up to 11 points. She is now just nine points away from being eligible for LPGA Tour Membership.

O’Keefe became the first player from the University of Texas to secure each accolade, and the third player to sweep all three honors since the creation of the awards, joining Rose Zhang (2023, 2022) and Rachel Heck (2021). The junior had a standout season, winning four times and never finishing outside the top 10 in any collegiate event in which she competed.

Coming into the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship, O’Keefe had a total of five points in the LEAP standings. In March 2026, she reached her highest ranking in the World Amateur Golf Ranking to earn one point. The Texas native was then given a sponsor’s invitation to compete at The Chevron Championship this past April, her fourth LPGA Tour appearance since 2021. There, she ultimately finished in a tie for 38th and earned co-low amateur honors alongside Yunseo Yang, securing her fifth point in the LEAP standings.

O’Keefe earned three points across the 2025 and 2024 seasons. She made the cut at the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally, finishing in a tie for 36th at Erin Hills in Wisconsin. Her first two points were earned as a result of her participation in the 2025 and 2024 Arnold Palmer Cups.

With her reception of the WGCA Player of the Year honor, O’Keefe moves to 11 points in the LEAP standings, two points behind University of Arkansas Razorback Maria Jose Marin and three points behind University of Oregon Duck Kiara Romero.

As the NCAA Division I women’s golf individual champion, O’Keefe earns exemptions into next week’s U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally at The Riviera Country Club and The Standard Portland Classic in August.

For more information on the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway, visit LPGA.com/LEAP.

Farah O’Keefe Jumps in LEAP Standings After Earning Six Points in Three Days

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