Jess Whitting hopes to use the unexpected windfall of a new BMW to drive her quest for an LPGA Tour card in 2025.

A day after celebrating her 26th birthday where she was given a “Where’s Wally” puzzle from Sarah Yamaki-Branch and lunch courtesy of Jordan O'Brien, Whitting won a $93,000 BMW i4 eDrive35 grand coupe with a hole-in-one at the par-3 third in Round 3 of the Webex Players Series Murray River at Cobram Barooga Golf Club.

It is the second year in a row that the BMW has been won, Kiwi Kit Bittle earning similar reward for his ace in the final round 12 months ago.

A recent graduate of the WPGA Tour Qualifying School and an alumni of the University of South Florida, Whitting has being playing under the stress of a dwindling bank account.

With an option to cash in rather than drive off into the sunset, Whitting says it will free her up to chase her dream of playing full-time in the US.

"It really does set up the rest of the year for me,” said a “gobsmacked” Whitting.

"I have no idea what I'm supposed to do this year. Whether I go back to the States and do the mini tour stuff so I can be prepared for Q School for LPGA. I think I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to stay home, really work on my game, go back just for Q School and then work from there.

"This car or the money is going to help me feel calm in being able to book flights, especially in this economy right now.

"I can hopefully feel calm about booking a flight to Stage Two with no worry.”

Incredibly, Whitting had a premonition that her next hole-in-one would be well rewarded.

She has not seen either of her previous two go in the hole and has not received even a certificate to commemorate either shot.

Yet she told anyone and everyone that the next one would count.

"I kept saying to people, the next time I make a hole-in-one it's going to be when there's a car,” said Whitting, whose history of motor vehicles include a Ford Focus, Ford Explorer, Chevy Aveo and Holden Astra.

“I've said it for years. The one that matters is when there's going to be a car.

“Still gobsmacked.”

Whitting is in a tie for 34th after her third straight round of 2-under 69, although this scorecard had a vastly different look to it.

After her ace on three, Whitting almost holed her tee shot on five, hit her tee shot out-of-bounds on six for a double-bogey and then birdied seven, admitting she struggled to bring her emotions back under control.

"I wish people would talk about it,” she added.

“I could feel the adrenaline in me because I tugged it left and that's what happens when I try to overdo it.

"My driver and 3-wood were just whipping through and I was like, I don't know how to fix this right now.

"I wish people would talk about it because the whole time I was like, How do I get my body back to normal?”