Austin Ernst

Her father, Mark, is the director of Operations and Golf Professional at Cross Creek Plantation and he played college golf at Furman.
Ernst majored in business at LSU. Played two seasons at LSU from 2011-2012. Ernst was the 2011 NCAA individual champion, the same year she earned NGCA first-team All-America honors and was named to the All-SEC second team. In her sophomore year, she was a second-team All-America selection by Golfweek and an All-SEC second-team member. Ernst was a semifinalist at the 2011 U.S. Women's Amateur and was a member of the 2012 USA Curtis Cup Team.
Turned pro in 2012. In 2013, she competed in 11 LPGA events and made eight cuts. Her best finish was a T-25th at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup. At the end of 2012 went to LPGA Q-School and finished T14th.
2014 Notes: She was 41st on the LPGA money list and 51st in CME points with 20 cuts made in 26 starts. She led the LPGA with 13 eagles in 2014. She earned her first LPGA victory at the Portland Classic with a playoff win over I.K. Kim, after the two tied at 14-under 274. Ernst made par on the first playoff hole, and when Kim missed an 8-footer that would have extended the playoff, Ernst had her first professional victory. Recorded one additional top-10 finish with a T-8th at KEB-HanaBank Championship.
2015 Notes: Played in 29 events making 23 cuts, she was 33rd on the money list and 21st in CME Points. She was T-2nd at the Yokohama Tire Classic, shooting 16-under 272 to finish one shot back of winner Kris Tamulis. Ernst led midway through the rain-delayed third round, taking a one-stroke lead into Sunday morning when she had to play 32 holes. She eventually led by two shots when the third-round was completed, and then carded a final-round 69 to finish one back of Tamulis, who had a final-round 65. Had three other top-10 finishes, T-5th at the Cambia Portland Classic, T-5th at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, and T-6th at the Founders Cup.
2016 Notes: Played in 27 LPGA events, making 22 cuts. Had three top-10s, best finish was 2nd at Citibankamex Lorena Ochoa Invitational, T-4th at the Cambia Portland Classic, and T-9th at the COATES Golf Championship. Finished 51st on the money list with $385,513 and 39th in CME points.
2017 Notes: Played in 28 LPGA events making 24 cuts. Had 4 Top-tens, T-2nd at the Kia Classic, six shots back of winner Mirim Lee. Finished 7th at the Pure Silk Bahamas and T-8th at the Honda Thailand. She finished 33rd on the money list. She was named to the U.S. Solheim Cup team for the first time as a captain's pick by Juli Inkster. She was 2-2-0 in the matches, including two wins on Saturday while paired with Paula Creamer.
2018 Notes: Played in 22 LPGA Tour events making 17 cuts with five top-ten finishes. Was runner-up twice, first at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship finishing 6 shots back of winner Nasa Hataoka. She was T-2 at the Evian Championship, one shot back of winner Angela Stanford. Also was 4th at the Marathon Classic, 2 shots back of the Suwannapura/Lincicome playoff. Was also 6th at Kingsmill Championship. She missed the Tour fall Asian swing as she recovered from mononucleosis. Was 20th on the money list with $858,494 and 27th in the Race to CME.
2019 Notes: Played in 22 LPGA events making 18 cuts with one top-ten, T-10th at the Honda LPGA Thailand. She was 72nd on the money list with $235,727 and was 68th on the CME points list.
2020 Notes: Played in 17 LPGA events making 14 cuts with four top-ten finishes. Won the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship by two shots over Anna Nordqvist. She was also T-4th at the Pelican Women's Championship and 5th at the AIG Women's Open. Was 6th on the money list with $771,092 and was 7th on the CME points list. During the break from COVID-19, she used the time to refocus on what to do.
2021 Notes: Winner again at the LPGA Drive On Championship at Golden Ocala, which she won by five shots over Jennifer Kupcho. Also T-5th at the Marathon Classic and T-7th at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship.