LPGA Q School 2025: The Difference a Day (Could Have) Made

And just like that, the LPGA's Final Qualifying, better known as the final stage of Q School, is now complete after what was a treacherous few days in Mobile, Alabama.

From rain and frost delays to play being suspended due to darkness (thank you December golf)—everything but the kitchen sink was thrown at participating players. The first round was postponed one day after the course was deemed unplayable, but the bad luck didn't stop there. Even more heavy rain hit over the weekend, and finally the decision to reduce the tournament from 90 holes to 72 was made Monday.

Hypotheticals at a time like this may not be the most helpful, but you can't help but wonder "what if"? Quite a few players that we had our eyes on narrowly missed out on their cards. Had things gone according to plan, would the results be different?

The decision to shorten play by 18 holes meant that there was no longer a cut, and those inside that window could've potentially made up some ground.

Take Gigi Stoll for instance.

Stoll, who was a 2024 rookie after earning her card through Q Series in 2023 and 2024, struggled at the start opening with an 8-over par 79 to begin her Final Qualifying journey. But the Oregon native rallied back over the last two days, going 11-under in 36 holes to put herself in position. She was four strokes shy of retaining her card.

She took to her Instagram story writing, "Losing my card is a tough pill to swallow. But this week was a huge win for me. I went from dead last to giving myself a chance...I may not have my card but I will be back and I will be better."

And she wasn't the only one who could've benefitted from another few holes.

Teen sensation Gianna Clemente was the name I was anxiously following. At the half-way point of her third round, the 17-year-old was sitting comfortably inside the top-25, but a costly double bogey on her last hole took her from within reach of her 2026 LPGA membership to being three strokes away.

After her second round 65, Clemente looked good, saying, "It's a long event for sure, and obviously I've already played two [stages] as well, so it's been pretty difficult, but I just rely on my team for the most part, and I have an amazing caddy and my mom's here this week as well."

But not all is lost for the Clemente or Stoll, all players who completed four rounds at LPGA Q-Series, Final Qualifying have earned Epson Tour status for 2026.

As for those advancing to the LPGA next season, let's get to know a few key players.

Leading the way at 13-under par is 20-year-old Helen Briem. The German will be an incoming 2026 rookie, but has already made three appearances on the LPGA Tour in 2025, with her best result at The Amundi Evian Championship (T56).

Briem has played on the Ladies European Tour (LET) the last two years, where she has earned seven top-10 results in 2025, including three runners-up.

Joining Briem is fellow LET member, Mimi Rhodes, who was Rookie of the Year on the European Tour and will be an LPGA Rookie to watch next season.

Rhodes played college golf at Wake Forest, where she was a part of the National Championship winning team in 2023. Since then, the 23-year-old has taken the LET by storm, collecting three wins in 2025 accompanied by an additional three top-10 finishes.

We have some familiar faces who clawed their way back—veteran player Jodi Ewart Shadoff and major champion Hinako Shibuno. Both will return to the LPGA Tour in 2026.

See the full list of the top-25 and ties who earned their membership here. Expect a full breakdown of 2026 rookies to know to hit Skratch soon.