DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — With most players focused on earning LPGA Tour cards or automatic exemptions into LPGA Q-Series, it’s oft forgotten that there are players just working to retain their Epson Tour membership, players like Baylor University alum Gurleen Kaur. Kaur began the week ranked 146th on the official money list, only making one cut in four starts as a 2023 Epson Tour rookie. But through three rounds at the Epson Tour Championship, the 23-year-old is in a tie for fourth at 16-under and is projected to move from 146th to 91st on the official money list, well inside the top-125 cutoff needed to have Epson Tour membership for the 2024 season.
Kaur is a 2023 Epson Tour rookie, and while she’d love to play her way to the LPGA via the LPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, having a locked-in spot on the Epson Tour next season will take some pressure off when she tees it up in Stage II and – hopefully – LPGA Q-Series. For now, though, Kaur is looking to chase down her first professional victory at LPGA International.
“I played really consistent, like especially on the front. I missed quite a bit of putts in the end, so I thought I could maybe (make) a couple more birdies, but other than that, I hit the ball really well, and I feel like overall my game has been shaping up for the end of the year and stuff,” said Kaur. “I think you just have to take it one step at a time. Stage II doesn't even start until two weeks, and then it's another month and a half until Q-Series, so just taking it step by step. Mentally, I have got to keep trending and keep playing as well as I possibly can.”
The Houston, Texas native has already gotten a taste of competing on the LPGA Tour, one that’s made her as hungry as ever to get to the big stage. Just last week, Kaur Monday qualified for the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G, her third time doing so for an LPGA Tour event. She also Monday qualified for the 2022 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America and the 2023 ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer. Kaur has also teed it up in a pair of majors, making the cut at the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open and missing the cut at the 2022 Chevron Championship.
Those past experiences have certainly benefited the rookie in her first year of playing on a professional tour. But last week, in particular, has got Kaur fired up about the direction in which her game is heading with a few incredibly important events left on her calendar, and she will look to continue that trend as she vies for her first Epson Tour title.
“(The Walmart NW Arkansas Championship) was my third Monday qualifier that I qualified for so I was excited to play over there. I really like the golf course,” said Kaur of her fifth LPGA Tour start. “I want to be out there hopefully by next year to start competing. It's good to just be playing good golf at the end of this year because Q-school is coming up, and I'm just excited for that.
“I’m just trying to keep growing, and last year I Monday qualified but I wasn't playing many Epson events. It's definitely a step forward to be here.”
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