NORMAN (Oklahoma) — Rose Zhang began the trend about three weeks ago. Adrien Dumont de Chassart snuck up on her the following week. Ricky Castillo then joined the party.
Three weeks in a row. A player who was making his professional debut won three consecutive events, all in different circumstances.
It’s not new for amateurs to achieve immediate success after college. However, there are now more opportunities than ever before, particularly on the men’s side, with PGA Tour University.
Kristoffer Ventura, a former Oklahoma State golfer, said on Thursday that he wished he had this when he was in college. He made the statement after a 5-under-par 67 opening round at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Compliance Solutions Championship held at Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club. “Those guys have just proved that they are very, very good.” They took full advantage of the opportunity. “It’s only going get better.”
Zhang, who won her second NCAA individual title in a record time of 13 days, made her LPGA debut at the Mizuho Americas Open. Dumont De Chassart, who had lost in the NCAA match play quarterfinals 12 days earlier, won the Korn Ferry Tour BMW Charity Pro-Am after a playoff the following week.
Castillo won the Wichita Open last week in a play-off, after he made his professional debut, just a few weeks after he had won the National Championship with Florida. He beat Dumont De Chassart, and Kyle Jones.
Dumont de Chassart, who finished third in the 2023 PGA Tour U Standings was granted a fully exempt Korn Ferry Tour Membership for 2023 as well as an exception to the final phase of the 2023 PGA Tour Qu-School. Castillo was the ninth ranked PGA Tour U player and had a conditional Korn Ferry Tour 2023 membership, PGA Tour Canada 2023 membership, as well an exemption for the second stage 2023 PGA Tour Q-School.
Last week was a great battle at @WichitaOpen. Next week I’m looking forward to competing in the at MHChampionship. Hope to see some @IlliniMGolf, and @IlliniAthletics in Springfield! pic.twitter.com/WUa80sY2HV
— Adrien Dumont de Chassart (@adrienddc) June 20, 2023
Castillo’s victory changed all that. Castillo is ranked in the top 30 of the Korn Ferry Tour. The top 30 finishers in the standings of the Korn Ferry Tour receive PGA Tour cards at the end. Dumont de Chassart is sixth in the rankings and will almost certainly earn a PGA Tour card.
Logan McAllister finished third in 2022 PGA Tour U’s standings. “College golf is not the same thing as professional golf. But the guys at the top have shown that they can compete here.”
There have been many changes made to PGA Tour U in the last year, mostly to counter the LIV Golf League’s attempts to attract players with guaranteed money. Eugenio Chácarra, a former Oklahoma State golfer, is one of those who quit college. He even won an LIV event in the past.
The top finisher of this year’s PGA Tour, Ludvig berg, , earned a PGA Tour membership and will have it for the remainder of the 2023 season and 2024, although he may be subject to reshuffles after 2024. The PGA Tour offered more opportunities for those who stayed in college to pursue PGA Tour after turning professional.
The No. 1 finisher from last year, Pierceson Coody, has won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour and is eighth in points this year. Pierceson Coody is the No. 1 finisher this year. He has won two times on the Korn Ferry Tour. He is well on his path to earning his Tour Card, but under current rules he wouldn’t have had it.
Coody explained: “At the beginning, you are frustrated that I missed it by an entire year. “But I’m on a good track and I’m doing the right thing, and I plan to be in the PGA Tour next year. I declined LIV and the following year the No. The No. 1 player receives a Tour Card. It’s strange to think about it, but that is the way it is. I am in a great position.
As long as I don’t lose my mind, I will have a great chance to achieve something in the future.
Many of the recent PGA Tour U grads agree that if this program was around in the past there would have been many more stories about players who turned professional and won right away.
Michael Thorbjornsen is a Stanford senior who will begin his senior season in the fall. He is participating in the Travelers Championship this week on the PGA Tour as a sponsor’s exemption. He will be a member of PGA Tour U during this season and he understands how important that is to the college game.
Thorbjornsen stated, “I believe the younger guys are improving and I think that’s because they see what opportunities there are for them.” “PGA Tour U is an incredible platform that allows us to do our best, and have a path to the Tour.”
College players are taking advantage of the opportunities that exist to turn professional.
Rico Hoey (27), who played college golf at USC and shot a 7-under-65 on Thursday, said that “these young guys are ready and hungry.” “It’s an excellent incentive to continue in school but it’s also really cool to watch these young men succeed.”
