The next generation of women’s golf is jam-packed with talent, and that talent is making their way to the LPGA Tour fast.

Take Yana Wilson, for example. A decorated amateur who turned professional in 2024, she’s gone on to pick up two victories during her rookie season on the Epson Tour and officially clinched her LPGA Tour card for the 2026 season following her second win of the year.

And through 18 holes of the Guardian Championship, Wilson leads the way at 8-under, in search of a third 2025 victory.

Another budding superstar is 2024 AJGA Rolex Player of the Year, Gianna Clemente, who is also competing in Prattville, Ala., alongside Wilson. And as the only amateur in the field, she’s holding her own against the other 119 professional competitors.

Clemente was bogey-free through her opening 15 holes in the first round, but had one small blemish, carding a bogey on the par-3 16th hole at RTJ Golf Trail at Capitol Hill’s Senator Course, before signing her scorecard. The strong start puts the 17-year-old in a tie for seventh with 36 holes remaining over the weekend.

“I got off to a hot start on the front. I shot 32 on the front,” said Clemente. “I had some putts fall and had some momentum going, and then I made a long stretch of pars, but it was still a good run.”

Clemente was given a sponsor exemption into the Guardian Championship, marking her third start on the Epson Tour as an amateur. Ignoring the pressure to prove herself worthy, Clemente is enjoying the opportunity to play at a higher level, and she’s doing so with a familiar face on the bag.

“I've got my dad on the bag, and we got here nice and early and played a lot of practice rounds. We've just been having so much fun,” said Clemente. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity that Guardian (Credit Union) and RTJ (Golf Trail at Capitol Hill) gave me. It's been awesome.”

The Florida native has had quite the year, earning two top-10 finishes in the AJGA field at the Mizuho Americas Open (T4) and at the Nelly Invitational presented by Chevron (T3). She also had a successful trip to Augusta, Ga., tying for 16th at the prestigious Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

On the professional stage, Clemente has teed it up in numerous LPGA Tour events, but most notably finished T30 at the 2025 Honda LPGA Thailand in February. Two made cuts in her 2025 LPGA appearances, including at The Chevron Championship, earned the rising star three points in the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP) program, a steppingstone onto the biggest stage in women’s golf.

“It's been a really long season, so I'm pretty excited for the off-season. But it's been really good,” said Clemente. “I've learned a lot this year, so I'm excited for what the future has to hold for next year.”

Clemente is off the Senator Course’s 10th hole on Saturday at 11:40 a.m. local time, in search of making her second Epson Tour cut as an amateur. Her last result on the Official Qualifying Tour of the LPGA was a tie for 16th that came at the 2023 Central Florida Championship.

Gianna Clemente Goes Low During Guardian Championship’s First Round

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