In the years since that trio of Monday qualifiers, Gianna has added several other accolades to her already stout resume. She won the 2023 Girls' Junior PGA Championship and then captured the 2023 U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball title alongside Avery Zweig. She won the AJGA portion of the 2024 Mizuho Americas Open and was named the 2024 AJGA Rolex Girls Player of the Year.

Gianna has competed in three Augusta National Women’s Amateurs, was a member of the first U.S. National Development Team organized by the USGA and played on two U.S. Junior Solheim Cup Teams. She has teed it up in seven LPGA tournaments across the last three seasons, two of which were 2025 major championships, and she nearly won an Epson Tour event earlier this year, going toe-to-toe with eventual champion and 2025 Epson Tour Player of the Year Melanie Green in a five-hole playoff at the Guardian Championship.

And now that she’s made the most of every opportunity she’s had as one of the game’s top amateurs, Gianna has decided it’s time to turn her focus to her ultimate goal of playing on the LPGA Tour someday, announcing via Instagram on Nov. 5 that she has elected to turn professional.

“I am extremely thrilled to announce that I am turning professional. I want to thank my family for supporting my dreams, helping me through the highs and lows, and standing by my side through it all,” Gianna’s post began, later continuing, “As I close this chapter of my life, I realize how junior and amateur golf has shaped me as a player and as a person. I will always cherish the memories and friendships made through these past five years.

“So beyond excited for this next chapter. Let’s get to work!”

For those who have followed the upward trajectory of Gianna’s career over the last several years, this choice is hardly surprising.

The 17-year-old advanced through the second stage of the 2025 LPGA Qualifying Series last month and had to turn pro if she intended to compete in Final Qualifying in December. But because she is under 18, Gianna needed a waiver to participate in the last leg of Q-School from LPGA Commissioner Craig Kessler, a request he ultimately approved.

And even though some might have expected her to want to take a traditional route, to experience life as a collegiate athlete having been home-schooled for quite some time, Gianna knew fairly quickly she wanted to travel a different road.

“It's such a big decision to make, and at 17 years old, it feels even bigger,” Gianna said of turning pro. “I took a couple of (college) visits, and I enjoyed my visits, but I decided that that route wasn't for me. I know everybody's path is different. There are many ways that you can get to the LPGA if that's your goal, but I decided to give myself a good opportunity at Q-School and see how it went.

“I think I've performed at the professional level a little bit over the last couple of years and gotten really good experience from that, so I just think I'm ready now, and I don't see a reason to delay it.”

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