Luis Gagne Bio
Luis Gerardo Gagne is a Costa Rican professional golfer recognized for finishing as low amateur at the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. Born on 27 August 1997 in San José, Costa Rica, he moved to Orlando, Florida at the age of three and began playing golf soon after. Gagne attended Louisiana State University, where he played four seasons of collegiate golf and earned multiple All-America and All-SEC honors before turning professional in June 2019.
Since joining the professional ranks, Gagne has competed on the PGA Tour Canada and the Korn Ferry Tour, with a focus on building a full-time career on major developmental circuits. He continues to represent Costa Rica on the international stage while pursuing opportunities on higher-profile tours.
Early Life and Background
Luis Gerardo Gagne was born in San José, Costa Rica, on 27 August 1997. His family relocated to Orlando, Florida, when he was three years old, and he began playing golf soon after settling into his new home. Spanish was his first language, and he learned English at the age of five.
One of Gagne’s earliest golf memories came at five years old, when he watched Tiger Woods play in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club in Florida. The experience helped spark a lifelong interest in competitive golf, and he continued to develop his game in central Florida throughout his childhood.
Path to Golf
Gagne played collegiate golf at Louisiana State University from 2015 to 2019, completing four seasons with the Tigers. During his sophomore year in 2016–2017, he finished ranked 25th in the United States in the final Golfweek player rankings and 52nd nationally in the final Golfstat player rankings. His consistent play at LSU established him as one of the top amateur golfers in the country.
He earned All-America Honorable Mention honors in 2016 and 2017, followed by an All-America Third Team selection in 2018. He was also named All-Southeastern Conference First Team in 2018 and All-SEC Second Team in 2017 and 2019. Gagne holds the second-lowest career scoring average in LSU history at 71.54, a record of his consistency at the college level.
Luis Gagne Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Gagne qualified for the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills through local qualifying and finished as low amateur, tied for 48th place, 15 strokes behind winner Brooks Koepka. The performance announced him as one of the top amateurs in the world. He followed that by qualifying via sectional qualifying at Bowling Green, Florida, for the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, where he missed the cut.
Earlier in 2019, he finished runner-up at both the Latin America Amateur Championship and the Abierto Sudamericano Amateur. On the day after helping the international team defeat the United States team at the 2019 Arnold Palmer Cup, Gagne turned professional in June 2019. He was ranked 29th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings at the time of his transition.
PGA Tour Canada Breakthrough (2021–2023)
In March 2021, Gagne won the PGA Tour Canada Qualifying School wire-to-wire at Mission Inn Club and Resort in Florida, finishing with a three-shot margin in a 106-man field and securing his card for the entire season. Later that year, he qualified for the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in California, his third start in the championship, though he missed the cut by four strokes.
In November 2021, he earned exempt status on the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour by advancing through final stage qualifying at the Landings Club in Savannah, Georgia. He played 22 tournaments on the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour, making the cut in ten, with a best finish of tied 21st, and ended the season ranked 124th. Returning to PGA Tour Canada in 2023, he posted a tied 6th finish at the Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open at Waskesiu Lake in June 2023.
Development Era (2019–Present)
Since turning professional in June 2019, Gagne has worked to establish himself on developmental tours. His exempt status on the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour and his 2021 qualifying school win on PGA Tour Canada represent key steps in his professional development. He continues to chase full status on a major tour while representing Costa Rica in major championships.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gagne is known for his steady ball-striking and consistency, qualities reflected in his second-lowest career scoring average in LSU history. His college record highlights a disciplined approach and the ability to perform across varied course conditions. Those traits have translated to a measured, course-management style on professional circuits.
Notable Events and Milestones
His low amateur finish at the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills remains his most recognized amateur achievement, placing him 15 strokes behind winner Brooks Koepka. He has represented the international side at the Arnold Palmer Cup and qualified for three U.S. Opens in total. His wire-to-wire win at the 2021 PGA Tour Canada Qualifying School stands as his most significant professional victory to date.
Luis Gagne Career Wins
Luis Gerardo Gagne’s professional victory collection is anchored by his wire-to-wire win at the 2021 PGA Tour Canada Qualifying School at Mission Inn Club and Resort in Florida. Beyond that breakthrough, his career has been defined more by steady progress through developmental tours and major-championship appearances than by a long list of tour titles.
PGA Tour Canada Highlights
Gagne captured the 2021 PGA Tour Canada Qualifying School by three shots in a 106-man field, an emphatic start to his professional career on that circuit. He later finished tied 6th at the 2023 Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open at Waskesiu Lake. Those results established him as a consistent presence on PGA Tour Canada.
Other Wins & Performances
Gagne earned exempt status on the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour at final stage qualifying at the Landings Club in Savannah, Georgia, a milestone that opened the door to higher-level competition. He made ten cuts in 22 starts on the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour, with a best finish of tied 21st, providing a foundation for future seasons on that circuit.
Luis Gagne Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Luis Gerardo Gagne was born and raised in a Costa Rican family that relocated to Orlando, Florida, when he was three years old. His parents supported the move to the United States, where he was first exposed to golf and learned English at the age of five. The family settled in central Florida, and that environment shaped his early sporting life.
Personal Life
Gagne currently resides in Orlando, Florida, the city where he grew up after leaving Costa Rica as a child. Public information about his personal relationships and family life is limited, and details about a spouse or children are not widely confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Luis Gerardo Gagne’s 2025 season storyline centers on continuing his progression on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Canada while seeking promotion to the PGA Tour. Following a tied 6th finish at the 2023 Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open and a season ranked 124th on the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour, he has been working to convert consistent play into higher finishes.
His exempt status earned at the 2021 Korn Ferry Tour qualifying tournament at the Landings Club in Savannah remains a useful baseline for his eligibility and scheduling. Improved ball-striking and course management will be central to climbing the rankings during the 2025 campaign.
Outlook for 2025 points to a schedule blending Korn Ferry Tour events with PGA Tour Canada appearances, giving Gagne chances to accumulate ranking points and pursue his first full PGA Tour card. His major-championship experience and prior low-amateur credentials at the 2018 U.S. Open provide a strong foundation for the year ahead.