Romero wins her second McCormack Medal, becomes the second player to earn status through pathway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 12, 2026) – Upon receiving the 2026 Mark H. McCormack Medal, Kiara Romero has reached the 20-point threshold to be eligible for LPGA Membership through the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP). She is the second player to become eligible through this pathway, following Lottie Woad who achieved the feat in 2025.

“I am so grateful and excited to have reached the points threshold to earn LPGA Tour status through the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway,” said Kiara Romero. “Thank you to my family, coaches, teammates and to the LPGA for making this possible. I’m looking forward to competing at the highest level and against the best golfers in the world.”

The 20-year-old from California has steadily climbed the LEAP standings, with her 2025 campaign marking her biggest jump yet. That season, Romero earned 12 points, adding to the two she accumulated in 2023 and 2024. Entering 2026, she was just six points shy of earning LPGA Membership, and as the No. 1 player in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, she took advantage of every opportunity to close the gap.

Romero competed in four of the five women’s major championships, with the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship being the lone exception. She recorded a top-25 finish at the U.S. Women’s Open, the second major of the year, and with strong chances of competing in both the Curtis Cup and Arnold Palmer Cup, expectations were high that the rising star could reach 20 LEAP points by the end of the summer.

Romero made LPGA Tour starts at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, The Amundi Evian Championship, the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open and the AIG Women’s Open this summer. She remained atop the World Amateur Golf Rankings and, just before the University of Oregon began its fall semester, earned her second consecutive McCormack Medal — along with the long-awaited point that made her eligible for LPGA Membership. Romero is just the fourth player to win multiple McCormack Medals in their career, joining Lydia Ko, Leona Maguire and Rose Zhang.

Romero accumulated a total of 23 points in the LEAP standings since her 2023 season:

2023 U.S. Girls Junior Champion – 1 point
2024 Arnold Palmer Cup Team Member – 1 point
Made cut at the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally – 1 point
2025 Arnold Palmer Cup Team Member – 1 point
Top-40 finish at the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open – 1 point
Top-10 finish at the 2025 The Standard Portland Classic – 2 points
No. 1 in the Women’s Amateur Golf Rankings in 2025 – 3 points
2025 recipient of the Mark H. McCormack Medal – 4 points
Top-25 finish at the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally – 2 points
2026 Curtis Cup Team Member – 2 points
2026 Arnold Palmer Cup Team Member – 1 point
2026 recipient of the Mark H. McCormack Medal – 4 points

LEAP was first announced in November 2024 as a program that provides top amateur female golfers a new path to LPGA Tour Membership. Through LEAP, female amateurs who accumulate a minimum of 20 points within the set criteria framework in the current year and the previous three calendar years will earn exempt Priority List status on the LPGA Tour, provided they also meet all LPGA Tour Membership requirements.

Since Romero has earned her 20th point on or after July 1 of this year, she has two options. She can accept LPGA Membership for the remainder of the current LPGA season and the following LPGA season. However, she can also defer LPGA Membership until the following season and gain eligibility for the following season only.

“We're so excited that Kiara has earned LPGA Tour membership through the LEAP program, and want to be the first to congratulate her on a spectacular amateur career,” said LPGA Commissioner Craig Kessler. “Kiara has continuously shown her ability to compete at the highest level of women’s golf, and we are proud to provide a pathway for elite amateurs like herself to play amongst the best in the world. We can’t wait to see everything Kiara accomplishes in her career on the LPGA Tour."

For more information on the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway, visit LPGA.com/LEAP.

Kiara Romero Becomes Eligible for LPGA Membership Through the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway

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