At the conclusion of the 2024 ANNIKA WAPT season, five exceptional players stood on the cusp of achieving their LPGA golfing dreams. Throughout the season, these talented athletes fiercely competed in the Callaway Race To Qualifying, driven by their unwavering determination to secure one of the top five positions in the standings.
These coveted spots offered not only advancement to the LPGA Qualifying but also a Callaway Scholarship, providing much-needed financial support to cover qualifying fees and alleviate the financial strain associated with pursuing their golfing aspirations.
The journey to this momentous occasion was far from easy. The ANNIKA WAPT season is renowned for its competitive nature and demanding schedule, requiring players to exhibit their skills on various courses and in diverse conditions. However, these five players demonstrated unwavering determination and remarkable consistency throughout the year, showcasing their abilities and potential as rising stars in the world of golf.
Mary Parsons, one of the top performers, aptly captured the essence of the ANNIKA tour when she stated at the Heritage Classic, “The ANNIKA tour provides players with an opportunity to prove themselves week in and week out and earn our way to the next level.”
As they stand on the threshold of realizing their LPGA golfing aspirations, these five players embody the spirit of dedication, perseverance, and excellence that defines the ANNIKA Women’s All Pro Tour.
Exploring the Top Five Performers in the Callaway Race To Qualifying
- Alison Muirhead, a native of Scotland, concluded the 2024 season as the top-ranked player, accumulating 1,927 points. Muirhead commenced the season with an impressive performance, securing the title at the inaugural event on the schedule, namely, the US Restoration Northshore Championship, which was hosted at the Beau Chene Country Club. Subsequently, she consistently placed within the top 20 before claiming her second title at the seventh event of the year, the Redbird Championship, which was held at Weibring Country Club. Muirhead then maintained her outstanding form throughout the remainder of the season, achieving two additional top-five finishes. Notably, she placed third at the Children’s Hospital of Illinois Championship and tied for fourth place at the Kathy Whitworth Championship.
- Hailee Cooper of Montgomery, Texas, concluded the season holding down the number two spot with 1,840 points. Hailee’s season was far from ordinary, as she emerged victorious in three out of the four ANNIKA WAPT events in which she competed. Despite being her initial professional season, Cooper claimed the title at her professional debut at the L’Auberge Lake Charles Championship, which took place at the Contraband Bayou Golf Club. The Texas A&M alumna continued her impressive performance with a seventh-place finish at the Taco Bell Natchez Classic before securing victories at both the Oscar Williams Classic and the Heritage Classic, where she impressively shot a final round score of nine under par, resulting in a score of 63.
- Nannette Hill, a resident of Jupiter, Florida, finished in third place with 1,660 points during the season, having secured six top 10 finishes. Hill notably placed second at the US Restoration Northshore Championship, followed by a third-place tie at the L’Auberge Lake Charles Championship and a tie for seventh-place at the Taco Bell Natchez Classic. Subsequently, she ascended to the top of the leaderboard by claiming the championship at the Mackie Construction Pro Golf Classic, hosted at Abilene Country Club. Hill maintained her impressive form with another second-place finish at the FCA Women’s Championship and a tie for ninth-place at the Redbird Championship.
- Mary Parsons, a Canadian professional golfer, culminated the competitive season ranked fourth in the standings, having accumulated 1,352 points. Despite an initial setback at the season opener, where she missed the cut, Parsons demonstrated remarkable resilience and consistency throughout the year. She secured two consecutive top-five finishes, placing fifth at both the Taco Bell Natchez Classic and the Mackie Construction Pro Golf Classic. Parsons maintained her momentum with three additional top-15 finishes before achieving her maiden professional victory at the Kathy Whitworth Championship. To conclude the season, she secured a notable third-place finish at the prestigious Heritage Classic, further solidifying her position among the elite golfers in the circuit.
- Yeji Kwon, another Canadian golfer and only 18 years of age, had a remarkable first professional season, securing the No. 5 spot with 1,123 points. Kwon’s journey began with a promising T8 finish at the US Restoration Northshore Championship. Her performance continued to excel with a third-place finish at the Oscar Williams Classic and a sixth-place finish at the Children’s Hospital of Illinois Championship. The highlight of her season came at the Genesis of Conway Central Arkansas Open, where she clinched the title by a margin of five strokes. Kwon concluded the season with a T4 finish at the Kathy Whitworth Championship, solidifying her position as a rising star in the world of professional golf.
Callaway Race To Qualifying Program
Callaway Race To Qualifying is a season-long points race for ANNIKA Women’s All Pro Tour members. Top finishers advance to LPGA Qualifying School and receive scholarships for entry fees. In 2024, players finishing 6th through 10th will also receive entry fee scholarships for Pre-Qualifying.
ANNIKA WAPT History
In 2019, K&G Sports LLC launched the Women’s All-Pro Tour (WAPT), which partnered with the LPGA’s Epson Tour to provide playing opportunities for advancement. In 2021, the partnership expanded with the inception of the Race To Qualifying program, rewarding the top five points winners with exemptions directly to Q2 of the LPGA Qualifying School.
In July 2023, a pivotal announcement was made: World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sörenstam and the WAPT would form a strategic alliance, commencing in 2024. As a result, the Women’s All-Pro Tour would be renamed the ANNIKA Women’s All-Pro Tour. This tour distinguishes itself by conducting only 72-hole championships, complemented by a full week of activities such as parties, clinics, and pro-ams.
