Paula Reto

Her amateur success also included back-to-back victories at the Dixie Amateur Championship in 2011 and 2012. Reto transitioned to professional golf in 2013, successfully qualifying for the LPGA Tour on her initial attempt and securing full status for the 2014 season by tying for 13th place at Q-School. In her rookie year on the LPGA Tour in 2014, Reto showcased her burgeoning talent, finishing 77th on the official LPGA money list and placing seventh in the highly competitive Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year standings. A significant early professional achievement was her solo third-place finish at the 2014 Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic, where she demonstrated her leadership potential by holding a three-shot lead after 36 holes and sharing the lead after 54 holes.

Throughout her career, Reto has accumulated over $2.6 million in official earnings, achieving one LPGA Tour win and one other professional victory. Further showcasing her international competitive prowess, she proudly represented South Africa at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where she finished tied for 16th. A pivotal moment in Reto’s professional journey arrived on August 28, 2022, when she secured her maiden LPGA Tour victory at the Canadian Women’s Open. Her commanding performance resulted in a winning score of 265 strokes (–19), featuring an exceptional opening round of 62 which set a new tournament record.

This remarkable win was a narrow one-stroke victory over fellow elite competitors Nelly Korda and Choi Hye-jin, solidifying her status among the tour’s top players. In the same year, Reto also claimed victory at the SuperSport Ladies Challenge. She had previously qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics, underscoring her consistent high-level play, though she was unable to compete due to COVID-19 protocols.