Symetra Tour Championship results

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Former Aggie standout Demi Runas, who earned a trio of Big West Player of the Year honors, catapulted her professional career in a big way barely a year after graduating from UC Davis when she earned her 2015 LPGA Tour playing card on Sunday while playing on the Symetra Tour.

Runas, from Torrance, California, is the first UC Davis player to earn an LPGA playing card and did so in dramatic fashion. Needing to finish in the top 10 of the Volvik Race for the Card money list - the top 10 automatically qualified for the LPGA Tour - and having just the Symetra Tour Championship this weekend left to play, Runas roared to a first-place tie. She eventually lost a three-way playoff but her $11,872 paycheck was enough to vault her from her No. 15 spot on the list before the tournament and into ninth.

"It's a dream come true," Runas told the Golf Channel on Sunday, adding she wasn't even aware she did enough to her earn LPGA card until after the playoff. A fire ant bite sent her to the hospital earlier in the tournament and she was advised not to continue playing this weekend but she forged on for her personal milestone.

Runas posted a 10-under 278 score at the Symetra Tour Championship, closing on Sunday with a 7-under 65. The tournament was played at LPGA International. Runas, a rookie on the tour, earned $45,095 this year.

Besides earning three conference player of the year awards, Runas was a four-time All-Big West selection, won two tournaments her senior season and won multiple Big West Player of the Month awards. She helped lead UC Davis to four conference titles and four berths into the NCAA Championships.