EL DORADO, Ark. – The fifth annual Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout will be the final tournament in the professional career for Julia Roth (Karlskrona, Sweden), who has decided to step away from competition and return to her native country.
“After much debate, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m done with this lifestyle and it is time to start a new chapter,” said Roth, a 2015 Epson Tour rookie preparing for her 61st and final career start. “I made lifelong friends through the Epson Tour and spent time with amazing host families, which I’m forever thankful for. It is going to be a super emotional week.”
Her golf journey in the United States began 155 miles up the road from Mystic Creek Golf Club in Conway at the University of Central Arkansas. Roth was a two-time All-Southland Conference First Team member, as well as a Second Team selection her junior year in 2012. Furthermore, she captured 2013 Southland Conference Player of the Year honors and ended her collegiate career with the lowest stroke average in school history (75.49).
One of the best players to ever come out of UCA, Roth hit a bump in the “Road to the LPGA” last year when she was diagnosed with a stress fracture in her upper back. The injury sidelined Roth for nine months and made her reevaluate.
“It was tough, but I also learned a lot about myself including there’s a lot more in this world than golf,” said Roth, who owns a career-best finish on the Epson Tour of tied for fifth at the 2017 Florida’s Natural Charity Classic. “I wanted to close my journey and career in Arkansas where everything started. I’ve always said that Sweden is only a flight away and now I’m going to have to say the U.S. is only a flight away.”
She’ll begin her Epson Tour swan song tomorrow at 2:09 p.m. CT off No. 10 tee with Emily Gilbreth (Houston, Texas) and Moa Folke (Tranas, Sweden).
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