Rookie Squad
The Golf Australia Rookie Program is designed to support elite golfers through their crucial transition from amateur to professional golf. The program provides comprehensive support for up to five years as athletes establish their professional careers on various international tours.
Supported by the Kinghorn Foundation, this innovative program goes beyond traditional funding models to deliver a holistic approach to athlete development. Selected rookies receive access to Golf Australia's international golf houses, specialized high performance support staff, dedicated service providers, and financial resources to help offset the significant costs associated with pursuing a professional golf career.
Rookie scholarships are awarded annually and may be offered as either full or partial funding packages. Full scholarships provide reimbursement of eligible expenses up to AU$100,000, enabling athletes to focus on their development and performance during the formative years of their professional journey.
The program's success is evidenced by its graduates who have secured playing rights on major international tours including the PGA TOUR, LIV Tour, LPGA Tour, and Ladies European Tour, establishing themselves among the world's elite professionals.
The Golf Australia Rookie Program aims to develop world-class athletes capable of achieving success at the highest levels of professional golf, including major championships, Olympic medals, and consistent representation in the world's top-100 professional rankings. This elite performance pathway not only inspires the next generation of Australian golfers but also generates vital exposure and investment in our sport.
By providing comprehensive support during the critical transition from amateur to professional golf, we create an environment where talented athletes can maximize their potential and compete successfully on the global stage. Our proven track record of developing players who secure status on the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, and other major international tours demonstrates the program's effectiveness in building sustainable pathways to professional success.
This systematic approach to high-performance development serves as a cornerstone for growing the game at all levels across Australia. The achievements of our athletes at the elite level directly contribute to increased participation and engagement in golf nationwide, creating a powerful cycle of inspiration, development, and success.
There are essentially two funding streams with which the scholarship will assist:
1. Training and preparation
This is to support players with coaching, strength and conditioning, biomechanics, sports psychology, physiotherapy, nutrition, etc.
Through the rookie program, Golf Australia will pay the agreed costs which are part of the player’s annual plan with no requirement for them to repay any of those costs. Players may use their own service team or seek Golf Australia’s support in setting up their preferred service providers.
2. Competition and travel
This is to support the player’s competition and travel expenses that can include but not limited to: airfares, accommodation, entry fees, caddie fees, etc. Through the rookie program, Golf Australia will pay the agreed costs which are part of the player’s annual plan.
The criteria for consideration in Golf Australia's rookie squad are as follows:
Be an Australian citizen
Have a successful amateur record at national and international level
Be in the final six months of their amateur golf careers
Have turned professional within the past five years
Have in place a team of service providers
Be hard working and highly self-motivated to achieve their objectives
Submit a full business plan (see application)
Exceptional time management and organisational skills
Competing on a recognised professional golf tour (Tours include but are not limited to USPGA, LPGA, European Tour, Ladies European Tour, web.com Tour, JLPGA, Asian Tour, Japan Tour, Symetra Tour, PGA Tour China, Canada & Latin America, Australasian Tour, WPGA Tour)
Submit a GA rookie squad application form by the due date
Must meet the requirements set out in the Golf Australia High Performance Program Education Policy
Golf Australia Rookie Squad members are expected to:
Abide by the Golf Australia athlete “Code of Ethics” and by such codes of their professional organisations/tours
Abide by the Golf Australia rookie contract
During the selection and renewal process for a Golf Australia rookie scholarship, the following criteria will be taken into consideration by the Golf Australia selection committee:
Results
World ranking
Tour status/pathway
Statistics
Playing evaluation
Athlete development processes
Organisation/management/life skills
Is the athlete tracking towards program objectives?
2025 Rookie Squad
Cassie Porter • QLD
Turned pro: 2021 Club: Peregian Springs Golf Club, QLD Coach: Dan Morrison Main Tour: LPGA Tour Age: September 14, 2002 Social media: @cassie_porter_ Official World Ranking: Cassie's ranking & results
About Cassie
Cassie turned professional in December 2021 after a promising amateur career that included a win at the Keperra Bowl that same year.
She also represented Australia as an amateur and in January 2023 registered her first win as a professional by prevailing over her best friend Kelsey Bennett in a thrilling four hole playoff at the Drummond Golf Melbourne International.
Porter spent the 2023 season playing on the Epson Tour in the United States where she had two top-10s and finished tied-14th in the tour championship.
Her breakout year came in 2024, finishing third at the Florida's Natural Charity Classic before winning her maiden Epson Tour victory at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Multiple top-10 finishes following this win helped Porter secure 10th spot on the season-long Race for the Card, earning her an LPGA Tour card for 2025.
Professional Wins
International Tour wins: 1
Epson Tour: 2024 Firekeepers Casino Hotel Championship
WPGA Tour of Australasia wins: 1
2023 WPGA Melbourne International
Professional Highlights
1 - 2024 Firekeepers Casino Hotel Championship (Epson Tour)
3rd - 2024 Florida’s Natural Charity Classic (Epson Tour)
T7 - 2024 Dream First Bank Charity Classic (Epson Tour)
T9 - 2024 Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic (Epson Tour)
T5 - 2024 Webex Players Series Victoria (WPGA Tour of Australasia)
Elvis Smylie • QLD
Turned pro: 2021 Club: Southport Golf Club, QLD Coach: Ritchie Smith Main Tour: DP World Tour DOB: April 23, 2002 Social media: @elvissmylie Official World Ranking: Elvis's ranking & results
About Elvis
The lefthander had a stellar amateur career, including claiming four significant titles as well as 13 top-10 finishes.
Smylie also produced a dominant performance to win the Australian Junior crown at his home course Southport in 2019 and was the Queensland Strokeplay champion in 2020.
His first Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia event was as an amateur when he contested the 2017 Queensland Open at just 15-years-old.
A breakthough first win came at the Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open in 2024, which Smylie won with a birdie following an exceptional approach shot on the first playoff hole after finishing level with Jak Carter at 19-under-par.
Smylie made it two wins for the season when he snared his first Australian golf major, the 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland, by holding off Cam Smith in a final-round duel. The win earned him full-time status on the DP World Tour for the first time.
Professional Wins
International Tour wins: 1
DP World Tour: 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship (Co-sanctioned)
Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia wins: 2
2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship & 2024 WA Open
2024 Highlights
1 - 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship (Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia)
1 - 2024 WA Open (Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia)
3rd - 2024 WA PGA (Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia)
T5 - 2024 ISPS HANDA Australian Open (Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia)
5th - 2024 QLD PGA (Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia)
Gabi Ruffels • VIC
Turned pro: 2021 Club: Victoria Golf Club, VIC Coach: Brett Lederer Main Tour: LPGA Tour Age: April 14, 2000 Social media: @GabiRuffels Official World Ranking: Gabi's ranking & results
About Gabi
Gabi Ruffels is one of Australia’s brightest young stars, and has graduated to the main LPGA Tour as a full member in 2024 via a dominant season on the Epson Tour in 2023.
Ruffels, who spent her infancy in the US before moving to Australia, won three times on the Epson Tour and was the No. 1-ranked player for 2023.
Incredibly, she only took up golf aged 14 having been a member of Australia’s tennis High Performance programs.
Ruffels turned pro in 2021 despite not having LPGA Tour or Epson Tour status, and relied on invitations to play. Previously she was one of world golf’s amateur stars, ranked No.6 in the world.
In 2019, Ruffels became the first Australian to win the world’s most sought amateur prize, the US Women’s Amateur, and has since looked right at home in her limited opportunities on the LPGA Tour.
Remarkably, Ruffels already has two top-15 finishes in major championships. Ruffels made the cut in four out the five major championships in 2024, her best finish a T40 at the Chevron Championship. She also had four top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour in 2024.
Professional Wins
International wins: 3
Epson Tour: 2023 Carlisle Arizona Women's Golf Classic, 2023 Garden City Charity Classic at Buffalo Dunes & 2023 Four Winds Invitational
WPGA Tour of Australasia wins: 0
2024 Highlights
3rd - 2024 Cognizant Founders Cup (LPGA Tour)
T3 - 2024 Mizuho Americas Open (LPGA Tour)
T3 - 2024 Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship (LPGA Tour)
T6 - 2024 ISPS Handa Scottish Open (LPGA Tour)
Harrison Crowe • NSW
Turned pro: 2023 Club: St Michaels Golf Club, NSW Coach: John Serhan Main Tour: Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Age: October 15, 2001 Social media: @harrisoncrowe Official World Rankings: Harrison’s ranking & results
About Harrison
Harrison Crowe has already played two professional majors. His place in the 2023 Masters and Open Championships was secured by his stunning win at the 2022 Asia-Pacific Amateur in Thailand, a victory secured with a great up-and-down at the final hole. Although he missed the cut in each event it has given him a taste of his future.
Ironically that Asian win probably delayed Crowe’s graduation to Professional because he already had status waiting for him on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia as a result of his brilliant win at the 2022 NSW Open at Concord.
Crowe also has been part of winning NSW teams at national level and has managed to fill the ‘W’ column more regularly than most.
Turning professional in 2023, Crowe was runner-up at the Queensland PGA Championship that year. In 2024 , Crowe recorded five top-10 finishes, including a T8 at the BMW Australian PGA Championship, and T5 at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
Professional Wins
International Tour wins: 0
Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia wins: 1
2022 NSW Open (As an amateur)
2024 Highlights
T5 - 2024 ISPS HANDA Australian Open (Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia)
T5 - 2024 The National Tournament (Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia)
T5 - 2024 Webex Players Series Sydney (Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia)
T7 - 2024 NSW Open (Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia)
T8 - 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship (Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia
Jack Buchanan • SA
Turned pro: 2023 Club: Glenelg Golf Club, SA Coach: Adrian Wickstein Main Tour: International Series 2025 Age: April 1, 2002 Social media: @jack_buch_ Official World Ranking: Jack's ranking & results.
About Jack
Buchanan had a standout amateur career, highlighted by representing Australia at both the Eisenhower Trophy (World Amateur Teams Championship) in Abu Dhabi, earning a silver medal, and the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in 2023.
He won the Glenelg Golf Club championship in 2020, the SA Amateur in 2022 and was second at that year’s Australian Amateur Championship, losing to Connor McKinney in a play-off.
His Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia debut as a professional came at the 2023 Queensland PGA Championship. Prior to then, he played seven Tour events as an amateur.
A debut win for Buchanan arrived at the 2024 CKB WA PGA Championship where he defeated Jordan Doull in a sudden-death playoff after both players finished at 17-under-par, the South Australian closing with a 6-under 66.
A second victory arrived just two weeks later in front of family and friends at Webex Players Series South Australia where Buchanan closed with a course record 8-under-par 62 at Willunga. He had started the final round five shots behind.
His dad started him off in golf at age eight and he was breaking par by age 14.
Wins
International Tour wins: 0
Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia wins: 2
2024 WA PGA & 2024 Webex Players Series South Australia
Professional Highlights
1 - 2024 WA PGA (Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia)
1 - 2024 Webex Players Series South Australia (Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia)
T5 - 2024 NSW Open (Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia)
T2 - 2024 Newmachar Classic (Tartan Tour)
T3 - 2024 Ladybank Masters (Tartan Tour)
Justice Bosio • QLD
Turned pro: 2024 Club: Caboolture Golf Club, QLD Coach: Richard Woodhouse Main Tour: LET & WPGA Tour of Australasia Age: February 25, 2004 Social media: @justice.bosio Official World Ranking: Justice's ranking & results
About Justice
Justice Bosio had a star amateur career that included an appearance at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, back-to-back Keperra Bowl wins and victory at the Pacific Northwest Women’s Amateur Championship in Washington in July.
Tied for 11th at the 2022 Women’s Australian Open, Bosio finished top 10 in her maiden Webex Players Series event at Rosebud in February 2023.
It was two further top-10 finishes at the Webex Players Series Hunter Valley and Women’s NSW Open and her visit to Augusta National in the months that followed that convinced Bosio she was ready to turn pro.
She was ranked No.48 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking when she turned professional ahead of Webex Players Series South Australia in 2024.
Professional Wins
International Tour wins: 1
Epson Tour: 2024 Firekeepers Casino Hotel Championship
WPGA Tour of Australasia wins: 1
2023 WPGA Melbourne International
2024 Highlights
1 - PNGA Women's Amateur (Amateur event)
T6 - 2024 Webex Players Series Hunter Valley (WPGA Tour of Australasia)
T6 - 2024 Women's NSW Open (WPGA Tour of Australasia)
T11 - 2024 ISPS HANDA Australian Open (WPGA Tour of Australasia)
Karl Vilips • WA
Turned pro: 2024 Club: TPC Sawgrass Coach: Col Swatton Main Tour: PGA Tour Age: August 16, 2001 Social media: @KoalaKarl2001 Official World Ranking: Karl's ranking & results
About Karl
Even though he spent much of his teenage years in the United States, it was in Perth that Karl Vilips honed his love for the sport.
Vilips was a child prodigy, winning multiple junior titles in the States. He won the Southern Amateur Championship in 2017 and also took home Gold for Australia at the Summer Youth Olympics in 2018.
Completing a successful college career at Stanford University, Vilips' biggest win came at the Pac-12 Championship in 2024, which earned him a Korn Ferry Tour card.
Wasting no time, Vilips' burst onto the Korn Ferry Tour scene, and after a string of top-10 finishes, broke through for his first win at the 2024 Utah Championship.
Finishing 19th on the season-long standings earned Vilips Rookie of the Year honours, as well as a PGA TOUR card for 2025.
Professional Wins
International wins: 1
Korn Ferry Tour: 2024 Utah Championship
2024 Highlights
1 - 2024 Utah Championship (Korn Ferry Tour)
2nd - 2024 NV5 Invitational (Korn Ferry Tour)
T13 - 2024 The Ascendant (Korn Ferry Tour)
T15 - 2024 Price Cutter Charity Championship (Korn Ferry Tour)
T20 - 2024 Korn Ferry Tour Championship (Korn Ferry Tour)
Kelsey Bennett • NSW
Turned pro: 2023 Club: St. Michael's Golf Club, NSW Coach: John Serhan Main Tour: Ladies European Tour 2025 Age: February 17, 2000 Social media: @KelseyBennett_Golf Official World Ranking: Kelsey's ranking & results
About Kelsey
Kelsey Bennett was one of New South Wales' top amateurs for a long time before turning professional in 2022.
In 2021, Bennett won the Victorian Women's Amateur 3&2 over Janeath Wong, and later that year recorded another runner-up at the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific in Abu Dhabi.
As an amateur she finished in the top-20 at both the Women's NSW Open, and the Australian Women's Classic, both Ladies European Tour co-sanctioned events.
Since 2022, Bennett has split her time as a professional between the WPGA Tour of Australasia and over in Europe on both the LET and LET Access Tour.
2024 proved to be Bennett's breakthrough year. First she won The Athena at Peninsula Kingswood, before taking out the Hauts de France – Pas de Calais Golf Open on the LET Access Tour. Later in 2024, Bennett was successful in her third attempt at LET Qualifying School, earning herself playing rights for the 2025 season.
Professional Wins
International Tour wins: 1
LET Access: 2023 Hauts De France Pas De Calais Golf Open
WPGA Tour of Australasia wins: 1
2024: The Athena
2024 Highlights
1 - 2024 Hauts de France (LET Access Series)
3rd - 2024 Montauban Ladies Open (LET Access Series)
T7 - 2024 ISPS HANDA Australian Open (WPGA Tour of Australasia)
T7 - 2024 Lacoste Ladies Open de France (LET)
Kirsten Rudgeley • WA
Turned pro: 2022 Club: Mount Lawley Golf Club, WA Coach: Craig Bishop Main Tour: Ladies European Tour Age: February 20, 2001 Social media: @kirstenrudgeleygolf Official World Ranking: Kirsten's ranking & results
About Kirsten
Kirsten turned professional ahead of the 2022 ISPS Handa Australian Open after holding the mantle as Australia's top ranked amateur. She represented Australia, won tournaments overseas, competed in the Augusta National Women's Amateur and earned a maiden major championship start at the 2021 AIG Women's Open during her amateur days.
In 2022, Rudgeley beat Grace Kim in the final to take out The Athena. This remains her sole professional win to date.
Only weeks after turning professional, Kirsten earned her Ladies European Tour card at Qualifying School and spent 2023 in Europe, where she finished a creditable 30th on the points list.
In 2024, in her debut season on the LET, Rudgeley was runner-up at the 2024 Lacoste Ladies Open de France after she lost a playoff to Chiara Tamburlini.
Professional Wins
International Tour wins: 0
WPGA Tour of Australasia wins: 1
2022 The Athena
2024 Highlights
2nd - 2024 Lacoste Ladies Open de France (WPGA Tour of Australasia)
T4 - 2024 Amundi German Masters (WPGA Tour of Australasia)
T5 - 2024 KPMG Women’s Irish Open (WPGA Tour of Australasia)
T5 - 2024 Dormy Open Helsingborg (WPGA Tour of Australasia)
T6 - 2024 Italian Ladies Open (WPGA Tour of Australasia)
Phoenix Campbell • VIC
Turned pro: 2024 Club: Yarra Yarra Golf Club, VIC Coach: Darren Cole Main Tour: Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Age: July 16, 2001 Social media: @phx.campbell Official World Rankings: Phoenix’s ranking & results
About Phoenix
Campbell created history as the first amateur to win the Queensland PGA Championship in the 92-year history of the event at Nudgee in 2023. He birdied the 72nd hole to beat a group of six players by one shot and then resisted the temptation to turn professional.
A few months later, the Victorian almost made it two wins for the season on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, finishing second behind Daniel Gale at Webex Players Series Hunter Valley. Another second followed at Webex Players Series South Australia at Willunga.
He then successfully defended his title at the Queensland PGA to claim his first win as a professional, defeating a field that included major champion Cam Smith.
Somewhat of a late bloomer, Campbell added to his first Qld PGA win with the Masters of the Amateurs crown in January and turned pro in September 2024 after finishing as Australia’s best performer at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship and low amateur at the Japan Open a week later.
His amateur career also included a victory at the 2023 Riversdale Cup, finishing as runner-up in the 2024 Australian Amateur and representing Victoria at the Australian Interstate Teams Matches.
Campbell took no time in making an impression on the pro ranks, making the cut on debut at the Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open and then shooting 64 in the final round to finish in a share of second at the Webex Players Series South Australia at Willunga Golf Course.
Professional Wins
International Tour wins: 0
Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia wins: 2
2024 QLD PGA & 2023 QLD PGA
2024 Highlights
1 - 2024 QLD PGA (Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia)
2nd - 2024 Webex Players Series Hunter Valley (Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia)
T2 - 2024 Webex Players Series south Australia (Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia)
T12 - 2024 Vic Open (Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia)