Two of the top amateur finishers at the second stage of the LPGA Tour’s qualifying school walked off Plantation Golf Club in Venice, Fla., on Friday facing career-altering decisions. Adela Cernousek, the 2024 NCAA individual champion out of Texas A&M, and UCLA’s Zoe Campos, No. 10 in the Women’s Amateur Golf Ranking, have to give notice to the LPGA by Nov. 15 to either turn professional and be eligible to compete in Q-Series Final Qualifying or remain an amateur.

They ultimately chose different paths.

Cernousek, who shot 2-under-par 70 in the final round to be the second-stage co-medalist at 14 under par with England’s Mimi Rhodes (65), said she is remaining an amateur and headed back to Texas A&M for her senior year. “I think that’s the plan,” the French native told the media.

Zoe Campos prepares to hit a shot during the 2024 NCAA Women’s Championship.

Orlando Ramirez

Campos, a UCLA senior, scored 74 on Friday to finish T-3, and the 21-year-old will take a shot at her near- lifelong dream of an LPGA card by turning professional and advancing to Q-Series. Ever since she was 8, Campos envisioned being like Lydia Ko and turning pro at a young age.

“I think my goal coming into this week was to make the top 35, to make it to final qualifying,” Campos said. “Obviously I was able to skip the first stage and come here, so I didn’t want to miss that opportunity, and I do feel ready for the next step. Yeah, I’m excited.”

Campos and Cernousek are two of five amateurs eligible to play in the Q-Series, joined by Campos’ UCLA teammate Caroline Canales, former WAGR No. 1 Julia Lopez Ramirez, and 2024 North & South Women’s Amateur champion Catie Craig.

The top 35 players of the 195-player second stage field are eligible to advance to Q-Series and are guaranteed status on the Epson Tour next season, even if they choose to remain an amateur and not move on to the next qualifying stage.

Cernousek’s decision mirrors last year’s second-stage medalist Ingrid Lindblad’s choice. The past WAGR No. 1 returned to LSU for a fifth collegiate season, turning professional after competing at the U.S. Women’s Open this past June. The 24-year-old finished sixth on the Epson’s Race to the Card list, similar to the LPGA’s CME points structure, in only nine starts to secure LPGA status for 2025.

Campos will play in her final college event in the East Lake Cup next week before heading into the Q-Series Final that will be played Dec. 5-9 at Magnolia Grove Golf Club in Mobile, Ala. The top 25 finishers and ties will earn their LPGA cards for the 2025 season.

This article was originally published on golfdigest.com