Darquea to Pursue LPGA Career

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Daniela Darquea earned LPGA Tour partial status at the third stage of qualifying school in Daytona Beach, Fla., earlier this month and has announced she will forego the remainder of her senior season and turn pro.

Darquea tied for 29th and shot even par for the five-round event (360) posting rounds of 74-68-75-70-73. The top 20 earn full LPGA status for the 2017 season, while those finishing between 21st and 45th are granted partial status.

“I would like to congratulate Daniela on her success at Q-school and thank her for everything she has done as a member of the Miami women’s golf team,” said head coach Patti Rizzo. “We wish her the very best as she moves on to the next chapter of her career.”

Darquea leaves Miami following an impressive collegiate career where she captured three ACC All-Conference honors. She closes out her career with 17 top 10 finishes and three tournament individual championships.

The Quito, Ecuador native, burst on the scene as a freshman in 2013 as she posted five Top 10 finishes en route to becoming Miami’s first All-American since Julie Brand in 1994.

Off the course, Darquea was equally impressive as she was named to the ACC All-Academic team in each of her three years at Miami. Following the 2015-16 season, Darquea was selected as the ACC Scholar Athlete of the Year.