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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Augusta National Women's Amateur

The Augusta National Women's Amateur (ANWA) is a golf tournament in Georgia, held at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta and Champions Retreat Golf Club in nearby Evans. The 54-hole stroke play event debuted in 2019.

The tournament is split between the two venues, with Champions Retreat hosting the opening rounds on Wednesday and Thursday with a field size of 72 players on the Island and Bluff nines. The field is cut to the top 30 players (with a playoff for the last spots if necessary) for the final round Saturday at Augusta National. A practice round is played on Friday at Augusta National with the full field. The tournament is held on the week directly preceding the Masters Tournament.

The winner of the tournament receives invitations to the next five ANWAs, that year's U.S. Women's Open and Women's British Open, and any USGA, R&A, and PGA of America amateur events for which she is otherwise eligible prior to the next ANWA – all providing she remains an amateur.

Background

Until 2012, Augusta National refused to formally admit women as members. Before the 2012 Masters Tournament, then-chairman William Porter Payne cited that in 2011, more than 15% of the non-tournament rounds were played by female players who were member guests or spouses of active members. On August 20, 2012, Augusta National admitted Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore as its first female members.

Prior to the 2018 Masters Tournament, new Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley announced on April 4 that the club would host the Augusta National Women's Amateur beginning in 2019. He stated that holding such an event at Augusta National would have the "greatest impact" on women's golf.

Concerns were raised that the event would conflict with the LPGA Tour's first major, the ANA Inspiration (which has invited top amateur players to compete), Ridley stated that he had discussed the event with commissioner Mike Whan, and stated that he agreed on the notion that any move to bolster the prominence of women's golf would be a "win" for the LPGA over time. In 2021, as part of a new sponsorship agreement with Chevron Corporation, the ANA Inspiration was renamed The Chevron Championship, and was relocated to The Woodlands, Texas with a new, later scheduling beginning 2023.

History

The inaugural tournament in 2019 was highlighted by a final round duel between eventual winner Jennifer Kupcho and María Fassi. Kupcho pulled away from Fassi by going five-under over the final six holes, winning by four strokes with a score of -10. Kupcho's back-nine performance included an eagle on the thirteenth hole. As with those who score an eagle during the Masters proper, Kupcho received a pair of inscribed crystal glasses for her achievement.

The 2020 tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic (which caused the 2020 Masters Tournament to likewise be rescheduled to November). All players invited to the tournament were invited back for 2021, provided that they were still an amateur at the time of the tournament.

Courses

Champions Retreat Golf Club

Hole Yards Par Hole Yards Par
1 385 4 10 385 4
2 390 4 11 150 3
3 485 5 12 375 4
4 410 4 13 375 4
5 385 4 14 515 5
6 155 3 15 325 4
7 325 4 16 390 4
8 160 3 17 175 3
9 475 5 18 500 5
Out 3,170 36 In 3,190 36
Source: Total 6,360 72

Augusta National Golf Club

Hole Name Yards Par Hole Name Yards Par
1 Tea Olive 365 4 10 Camellia 450 4
2 Pink Dogwood 515 5 11 White Dogwood 400 4
3 Flowering Peach 340 4 12 Golden Bell 145 3
4 Flowering Crab Apple 170 3 13 Azalea 455 5
5 Magnolia 400 4 14 Chinese Fir 380 4
6 Juniper 165 3 15 Firethorn 475 5
7 Pampas 330 4 16 Redbud 145 3
8 Yellow Jasmine 480 5 17 Nandina 370 4
9 Carolina Cherry 395 4 18 Holly 385 4
Out 3,160 36 In 3,205 36
Source: Total 6,365 72

Winners

Year Dates Champion Winning score To par Margin
of victory
Runner(s)-up
2024 Apr 6 England Lottie Woad 68-71-69=208 −8 1 stroke United States Bailey Shoemaker
2023 Apr 1 United States Rose Zhang 66-65-76=207 −9 Playoff United States Jenny Bae
2022 Apr 2 United States Anna Davis 70-76-69=215 −1 1 stroke Sweden Ingrid Lindblad
United States Latanna Stone
2021 Apr 3 Japan Tsubasa Kajitani 73-72-72=217 +1 Playoff United States Emilia Migliaccio
2020 Cancelled
2019 Apr 6 United States Jennifer Kupcho 68-71-67=206 −10 4 strokes Mexico María Fassi

Media coverage

The final round of the tournament is televised by NBC.

References

  1. ^ "Augusta National Women's Amateur". Champions Retreat Golf Club. 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  2. ^ "Augusta National Women's Amateur Fact Sheet". Augusta National Women's Amateur. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  3. ^ Hiltzik, Michael (March 31, 2012). "Augusta National's woman problem". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
  4. ^ "Augusta Chairman Billy Payne refused to comment on female memberships". Golf.com. April 4, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
  5. ^ "Augusta National admits two women, including Condoleezza Rice". USA Today. August 20, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
  6. ^ Shipnuck, Alan (April 6, 2004). "Taking on The Times". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on June 30, 2004. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
  7. ^ Herrington, Ryan (April 4, 2018). "Masters 2018: Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship to debut in 2019". Golf Digest. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  8. ^ Romine, Brentley (January 28, 2019). "Six players, including Arizona's Yu-Sang Hou, complete Augusta National Women's Amateur field". Golf Channel. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  9. ^ Levins, Keely (October 5, 2021). "LPGA Tour making major changes to year's first major, with new name, purse, course and sponsor". Golf Digest. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  10. ^ Murray, Ewan (October 5, 2021). "Women's golf major gains sponsor and bigger purse amid venue uncertainty". The Guardian. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  11. ^ Beall, Joel (October 10, 2019). "A Masters tradition was extended to Augusta National Women's Amateur champ Jennifer Kupcho". Golf Digest. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  12. ^ Scott, Roxanna (October 10, 2019). "Cool Masters tradition extends to Jennifer Kupcho months after ANWA win". Golfweek. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  13. ^ "2020 Augusta National Women's Amateur Canceled". anwagolf.com. April 6, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  14. ^ Zak, Sean (April 6, 2020). "2020 Augusta National Women's Amateur canceled". Golf.com. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  15. ^ "The courses: Augusta National". Augusta National Women's Amateur. 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  16. ^ Lavner, Ryan (September 12, 2018). "NBC to broadcast inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur". Golf Channel. Retrieved February 6, 2019.

33°30′11″N 82°01′12″W / 33.503°N 82.020°W / 33.503; -82.020