Zibilski’s result arrived barely four months after she graduated from the University of Arkansas in May. She turned professional in June and won in her eleventh Epson Tour appearance. Her route into the professional game came through the inaugural LPGA Collegiate Advancement Pathway class, which supplied Epson playing status straight out of college.
One week before this victory, she made the cut in her first LPGA start at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, the tournament she had attended growing up. Nichols reported that Zibilski carried that confidence into the season finale in California. Sunday’s 62 then gave her both a title and the next season’s destination in the same afternoon.
Ting closed with a five-under 66 for 14-under 270. Although she missed the tournament win by one, her runner-up finish confirmed first place in the Race for the Card. She had also played the Arkansas LPGA event, where she qualified on Monday and finished tied for fifteenth.
Catherine Park and third-round leader Cholcheva Wongras tied for third at 13-under 271, according to the official final report. Park finished with a bogey-free 66. Wongras, who had led or shared the lead from the opening round, closed with 68. Kaleiya Romero, Kiira Riihijarvi and Amari Avery tied for fifth at 11 under.
The standings carried difficult consequences elsewhere. Haylee Harford Sanchez began the week fifteenth but slipped to sixteenth after a final-round 76. Kate Smith-Stroh fell three places to seventeenth after finishing tied for 59th. Avery held her position inside the card places, while Romero finished third in the season standings.
The Epson Tour’s winner’s selfie closes a short rookie season with the player who made its last day count. Zibilski went from college graduation to an LPGA card in eleven qualifying-tour starts, with her best round arriving when the final standings were being decided.
