For most professional golfers, the transition from college standout to touring pro is a calculated process including scheduled flights, practice rounds, and meticulously timed warm-ups. For Epson Tour rookie Faith Choi, that transition didn’t just happen on a schedule; it happened as she was driving away from the course, getting ready to wear another hat for the weekend, a caddie.

At last week's Atlantic Beach Classic event, Choi found herself in the agonizing "limbo" known to many young pros: the reserve list. After the new addition to select events on the Epson Tour this season, the Monday qualifier didn't go her way; after shooting a 2-over, 73, she resigned herself to the role of supportive friend and caddy for her former teammate, Kaillie Vongsaga.

"I was there at like 7 a.m. that morning, and I was chillin', and the first morning wave went out, and I was like, yeah, I'm not getting in," Choi recalled. "I was leaving... then I saw Nick [Brady] [Epson Tour player services coordinator], and he said, 'You're in the field.' I said, I guess I'm playing some golf this week."

Getting into a professional field three hours before a tee time is one thing; performing is another. Without the benefit of a standard tournament prep week, Choi admitted the start was "horrid." After an opening-round 76, she found herself staring down a missed cut in her professional debut.

"I knew that there were still 27 holes to play," she said. "I was like, you know what, you need to start getting comfortable sooner or later, or it's just going to come back and bite you. I kind of calmed down after that."

However, the resilience that defined her college career surfaced on the back nine of the second round, carding a 2-under, 34. Choi transformed her mindset, signing for a 68 to surge past the cut line.

While Choi is navigating the fairways and greens of the courses on the Florida stretch, she’s also tackling the "hidden" hurdles of professional golf: logistics. For a rookie used to the structured environment of a college team, where travel, meals, and laundry are often coordinated by coaches, the DIY nature of the Epson Tour has been an eye-opener.

"Probably traveling by myself and making my travel plans... I wasn't very good at that," Choi laughed. "Finding out where I'm going to stay, or what I'm going to eat, or when I am going to eat. Also, doing laundry at some random place is kind of freaky."

Success in golf happens few and far between the losses, and Choi has been quick to lean on those who have walked the path before her. Before her wild entry into the field last week, she spent a practice round with Isabella Fierro, who went on to win the tournament.

Fierro’s advice to the rookie wasn't about swing planes or putting lines, but about sustainability.

"She was very big on taking care of your body," Choi noted. "She was telling me, 'Hey, you're going to have a lot of weeks back-to-back on the road, you need to prioritize your mental health, your physical health.' Out of everything, you've got to have a lot of fun out here."

With her first made cut and a T50 finish under her belt and the "newbie" jitters fading, Choi enters this week at Alaqua Country Club with a newfound sense of belonging. The chaos of her debut proved one vital thing: she can handle the unexpected.

"I think knowing that moving forward... I can play out here, which is nice," Choi said. "It is good momentum to make the first cut of the season."

As the Epson Tour season kicks into high gear, Faith Choi isn't just a name on a reserve list anymore; she’s a player who has proven she belongs in the field, no matter how she gets there.

From the Reserve List to the Weekend Faith Choi's Whirlwind Epson Tour Debut

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