Notebook: Augusta National Holds Its Own, 36-Hole Leads Remain Fragile in Women's Amateur
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Of the 31 players that teed it up in Saturday’s final round in the Augusta National Women's Amateur, only three shot under par. Runner-up Jenny Bae and Saki Baba shot a 2-under 70 and Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio recorded a 1-under 71.
It was only the second time that someone in the field didn’t record a round in the 60s.
It was also the first time in the history of the ANWA that the winner didn’t shoot par or better in the final round. Last year’s winner Anna Davis shot a final-round 69, 2021 winner Tsubasa Kajitani shot an even-par 72 and Jennifer Kupcho shot a final-round 67 to win the inaugural event in 2019.
Caddie Choices
Twelve players used Augusta National caddies in the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Yuna Araki, Jensen Castle, Briana Chacon, Hsin-Yu-Lu, Caitlyn Macnab, Hinano Muguruma, Bohyun Park, Amanda Sambach, Megan Schofill, Latanna Stone, Crystal Wang and Yana Wilson had stroke average of 75.67 with the local loopers.
The other 19 players, including winner Rose Zhang (whose caddie was her father) and runner-up Jenny Bae (a college coach) averaged 75.68.
Fragile 36-Hole Leads in Augusta
Rose Zhang led by five shots going into the final round and almost didn't take the trophy home. But that wouldn't have been a first.
In three previous Augusta National Women's Amateurs, the leader only won one time, in 2019 when Kupcho had a one-shot lead going into the final round before winning by four shots.
Ingrid Lindblad for Sweden and Zhang held the 36-hole lead in 2021 and would finish tied for third as Japan’s Kajitani won in a one-hole playoff over Emilia Migliaccio.
In 2022, Sweden’s Beatrice Wallin and Latanna Stone held the 36-hole lead, but faltered and opened the door for the 16-year-old Davis to win by a shot.