Ella Scaysbrook has been offered a Tier 3 spot in the Golf NSW Futures Program, with the Newcastle golfer set to use the added support as she prepares to tee it up at LPGA Q Series Pre-Qualifying in California next month.
Scaysbrook has entered the LPGA Tour Q Series Pre-Qualifying event at Indian Wells Golf and Country Club from September 23-25, the first stage of a three-stage process to secure LPGA or Epson Tour status for 2027.
Golf NSW Manager – High Performance Khan Pullen said Scaysbrook’s rapid rise over the past two years made her an easy selection for the program.
“Ella has shown time and again on the world stage that she has the game and the temperament to compete at the highest level,” Pullen said.
“Backing her through the Futures Program as she takes this next step towards LPGA Q School was an easy decision for us. We’re confident she has what it takes to make the most of the opportunity.”
The 20-year-old, who reached the round of 16 at this year’s US Women’s Amateur after making the semi-finals in 2025, and was runner-up at last year’s Australian Master of the Amateurs, said the call from Pullen offering her the Futures Program spot came as a welcome vote of confidence.
“To get the call from Khan was a huge boost for me, to know Golf NSW believe in me and will support me moving forward is a good feeling,” Scaysbrook said.
The Futures Program was launched by Golf NSW in 2025 to provide financial and developmental support to the state’s elite amateurs and emerging professionals as they pursue tour opportunities, filling a gap for players without adequate backing from other sources.
Pullen said the timing of Scaysbrook’s selection, just weeks out from her Q Series campaign, was no coincidence.
“This is exactly the kind of moment the Futures Program exists for. Ella is putting herself in front of a huge opportunity in the US, and we want to make sure the practical side of things is one less thing she has to worry about,” he said.
For Scaysbrook, the support couldn’t come at a more relevant time, with the costs of amateur travel and competition front of mind as she builds towards Q School.
“The support will let me concentrate on golf, as it will help ease the financial pressure of travelling and playing tournaments, it is very costly, especially as an amateur,” she said.
Despite the magnitude of what’s ahead, Scaysbrook is approaching Q Series with the same mindset that’s carried her through a breakout 2025.
“I feel good heading into LPGA Q School, I’ll just treat it like any other tournament. I have made a few changes this year, been working on things and I feel my overall game is improving all the time,” she said.
“I feel I am ready to take the next step and excited to test myself in a high pressure situation like Q School.”
Her preparation for Indian Wells will look much like it always does.
“My prep will be the same as any other tournament, I will just continue doing what I normally do, play as much as I can and make sure my body is ready as well as my equipment,” Scaysbrook said.
Q Series runs across three stages, with status on offer at every level from here.
“There are three stages to LPGA Q School, Pre-Qualifying is the first stage. If you get through you will at minimum earn some status on Epson Tour. The further you go and higher up you finish in the next two stages, the better status you will get for 2027,” she explained.
Whatever the outcome at Indian Wells, Scaysbrook says she’s not putting all her eggs in one basket.
“It would mean a lot to me to get through and secure some sort of status in the US next year. Either way I have other options moving forward and plenty of good things to look forward to.”
Golf NSW will be following Scaysbrook’s progress closely as she joins Declan O’Donovan as the program’s current Futures Program athletes.
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