Paula Reto

Born on May 3, 1990, in Cape Town, South Africa, Paula Reto began her golf career later than many, taking up the sport in 2005 after participating in field hockey and track. Her collegiate career at Purdue University from 2009 to 2012 showcased her developing talent, where she was a key member of the 2010 NCAA National Championship team. Reto earned First-Team All-Big Ten Conference honors three times between 2011 and 2013, and was named a First-Team All-American in 2013. That same year, she achieved an individual third-place finish at the NCAA Championships and was recognized with the Mary Fossum Award for the lowest stroke average in the Big Ten Conference. Her amateur success also included back-to-back victories at the Dixie Amateur Championship in 2011 and 2012.

Reto turned professional in 2013, successfully qualifying for the LPGA Tour on her initial attempt. She secured full status for the 2014 season by tying for 13th place at Q-School. In her rookie year, Reto finished 77th on the official LPGA money list and placed seventh in the Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year standings. A notable early achievement as a professional was her solo third-place finish at the 2014 Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic, where she held a three-shot lead after 36 holes and shared the lead after 54 holes. Over her career, Reto has accumulated one LPGA Tour win and one other professional win, with total official career earnings exceeding $2.6 million.

A significant milestone in Reto’s professional career occurred on August 28, 2022, when she secured her first LPGA Tour victory at the Canadian Women’s Open. Her winning score of 62-69-67-67=265 (−19) included an opening round 62, which set a new tournament record. This win marked a one-stroke victory over Nelly Korda and Choi Hye-jin. Reto has also represented South Africa in the Olympic Games, participating in the 2016 Summer Olympics, where she finished tied for 16th. She qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics but was unable to compete due to COVID-19 protocols.