Reigning NCAA individual champion marks third top-10 amateur to turn pro ahead of LPGA Final Qualifying

The reigning NCAA individual champion won’t return to Omni La Costa Resort & Spa’s North Course in May to defend her title.

Adela Cernousek, a senior at Texas A&M and 10th-ranked amateur in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, announced Monday she was turning professional. The decision comes on the heels of Cernousek advancing to final stage of LPGA Q-Series, with amateurs having to turn professional to compete in Final Qualifying, Dec. 5-9 at Magnolia Grove Golf Club in Mobile, Alabama.

Cernousek is the third amateur who advanced to Final Qualifying to turn professional, joining UCLA’s Zoe Campos and Mississippi State’s Julia Lopez Ramirez, who announced last week. Western Kentucky senior Catie Craig told Golfweek she is retaining her amateur status, as is fellow UCLA senior Caroline Canales in what was an 11th-hour decision.

The amateur deadline to turn professional and compete in Final Qualifying was 5 p.m. ET Friday, Nov. 15. Those who don’t turn professional will receive Epson Tour status.

With Lopez Ramirez (No. 3 in WAGR), Campos (No. 8) and Cernousek (No. 10), college golf is set to lose three of its best seniors for the spring season.

This is on the heels of the expected LPGA announcement of a new way for the top amateurs to pass Q-Series, which could help keep some in school.

But for now, three of the best in amateur golf are chasing their professional dreams.