Golf is a global game, but being able to compete at a professional level can be quite the challenge for those who do not have easy access to the major professional tours.

This week at the Qualifying stage of LPGA Q-Series, there are 29 different countries being represented, and the United States is leading the way with 94 athletes out of the 195-player field set to tee it up. But for one of the first times in LPGA Tour history, a player from Lithuania has a chance to qualify for either the LPGA Tour or the Epson Tour, the Official Qualifying Tour of the LPGA.

If Gile Bite Starkute completes 72 holes at Qualifying this week, she will earn Epson Tour status for the 2025 season, becoming the first Lithuanian to represent their country on the circuit. Starkute also still has a chance to reach the LPGA Tour next year, but she needs to finish this week inside the top 35 to secure her spot in the field at Final Qualifying in December.

“I'm just super proud. I'm actually really happy that I was able to come from Lithuania all the way here to the U.S. and actually make it to one of these two tours,” said Starkute. “I guess what I'm trying to do is put a little bit more exposure to Lithuania and show Lithuania is on the map and we have players.”

Starkute, like a lot of her fellow athletes, got into golf at a young age because of her parents. Her dad was an investor for one of the first golf courses built in Lithuania, where she would participate in junior camps as the game was just a hobby at first. As she grew up, the 23-year-old started to take golf more seriously after learning she could compete collegiately in the United States, and she began playing in more tournaments abroad to get more competitive reps.

“Before I knew it, I was in Arizona playing for five years,” explained Starkute, who played collegiate golf at the University of Arizona. “Then I thought, why not try it? Why not give it a chance, at least one of the years, to try to go to Epson and try to go to LPGA? I became the first female professional in Lithuania, and I want to prove it a little bit to people that it's possible.”

Before turning professional, in her five years at the University of Arizona, Starkute set the school record for most rounds played for the Wildcats, representing the program in 145.5 competitive rounds. She helped the team win their first NCAA Regional Championship since 2010 during the 2023 season and was named an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention that same year. During her fifth year, Starkute tied the lowest score in program history, posting an 8-under 64 at the Match in the Desert to ultimately win the 18-hole event.

At 2024 Pre-Qualifying, Starkute felt the nerves, knowing this was her only chance to get on the Epson Tour or LPGA Tour and represent Lithuania on one of the two biggest stages in women’s golf. But she delivered for her country, finishing 72 holes at 1-under and two shots inside the cutline.

“The nerves were high. There are over 300 great players over there,” said Starkute. “You either make it through the first stage, and you can get your status in the second stage, or your golf career is done. That's hard to think about after playing for 15 or 16 years. So, the nerves were high. I wasn't doing great the first couple of days, but then it was kind of like a fight or flight situation, and I chose fight. So here we are.”

The Lithuanian will continue that fight tomorrow when she tees off for her first round of Qualifying on the Panther Course at 12:22 p.m. local time.

Gile Bite Starkute Looking to Become First Lithuanian Golfer to Compete on the LPGA or Epson Tour

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