A pair of former UCF men’s golfers Ricardo Gouveia and Manuel Elvira have earned their DP World Tour Cards for the 2025 season. The DP World Tour, also known as the European Tour, allows the top 110 players in the Race to Dubai points standings to keep their status for the following season.
Both players earned their cards for the second consecutive year, after Elvira earned his first card last year at this time.
Heading into the final tournament of the 2024 regular season at the Genesis Championship, Gouveia needed a top-five finish to secure his card for next season and he delivered with an incredible performance to claim third place.
He was under par all four rounds to end with a 272 (-16), just one stroke shy of tying for the win. Gouveia shot a 69 (-3), 67 (-5), 69 (-3) and a 67 (-5) at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Korea.
"I'm obviously over the moon to keep my rights for next year, it's unbelievable," Gouveia said. "I was trying to win the tournament, but at the same time, the last few holes I knew what my position was so it was a mix of emotions but I’m so happy, over the moon.
"I just came in with no expectations. I played well in my last tournament, but I came with no expectations, and I think this course suited my game. I drove the ball well all week, I hit a lot of nice shots into the greens, and I putted much better this week - that was the difference."
Gouveia entered the Genesis Championship 154th on the Race to Dubai rankings and jumped 54 spots to No. 100 thanks to the stellar showing. Prior to the top-five finish, Gouveia’s best finish was a tie for 23rd at the Volvo China Open (April 5) and the Ras Al Khaimah Championship (Jan. 27).
During the 2024 season, the Portugal native finished among the top 50 seven times and was under par in 10 tournaments. Gouveia was a multiple time All-America honorable mention at UCF and a two-time PING All-Southeast Region honoree. He was also a two-time all-conference performer and tabbed the Conference USA Newcomer of the Year during his time as a Knight. He closed his collegiate career in 2013-14. To view his current European Tour bio, click here.
In his first season on the European Tour, Elvira tallied 14 top-50 finishes to maintain his card for 2025 and rank No. 102 with 510.25 points. His best finish of the season came at the Magical Kenya Open, when he finished tied for fourth with a 273 (-11), just three strokes shy of the individual leader.
Elvira was tied for 27th in his most recent outing at the Genesis Championship to comfortably secure his card for 2025. He shot a 281 (-7) and was under par in all four rounds thanks to a 68 (-4) in the first round and a 71 (-1) in each of the last three rounds.
Hailing from Santander, Spain, Elvira’s best round of the season came at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship in January when he shot a 62 (-10) in the second round. He had eight birdies and an eagle in one of the best rounds of his career.
Elvira was a three-time all-conference performer for the Knights and capped his collegiate career with a ninth-place finish at the Kissimmee Regional en route to helping UCF advance to its second consecutive NCAA Championship in 2017-18. To view his current European Tour bio, click here.