Women’s Amateur a first for Augusta National. What are ultimate rewards, benefits?
The inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship that begins Wednesday comes with promises of ground-breaking possibilities in women’s golf, but time will judge the impact.
A field of 72 will play the first two rounds of the 54-hole event at Champions Retreat near Augusta on Wednesday and Thursday. The low 30 scorers will play a practice round at Augusta National Golf Club on Friday, then will compete in the event’s final round on Saturday over the layout that annually stages on the Masters.
The state of South Carolina will be liberally represented with five players in the field: former USC star Ainhoa Olarra, Clemson senior Alice Hewson, current Furman players Natalie Srinivasan and Haylee Harford and former Furman standout Alice Chen.
The fact that Augusta National Golf Club puts its power behind the tournament provides immediate credibility. Indeed, in announcing the plans last April, club chairman Fred Ridley said the competition embodies the principles of founders Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts.
“We believe this event will have a significant and lasting impact on the future of the women’s game,” Ridley said then. “Our hope and expectation is that this event will further energize those who already love the sport and inspire others through the dream of competing at Augusta National.”
That should happen, Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam told reporters in looking toward the tournament.
She talked about the possibility of competing at Augusta National being a dream come true for aspiring players and told Golfweek, “As a little girl, knowing you have a chance to play on the greatest stage, it would’ve sent me to the range” to practice.
Cecelia Fournil, a Columbia insurance executive and an accomplished amateur golfer, takes a different perspective. A strong advocate of women’s golf, she said, “It’s almost disingenuous. What’s the whole point? You invite 72 and only 30 get to play at Augusta National? I don’t get it.”
Fournil, who has won state and regional titles and competes in USGA national events, sees the Augusta tournament as “a very small step” for women’s golf.
“If you’re going to have a tournament, have a tournament and do it right by playing on the same golf course,” she said. “It’s basically for college golfers. No mid-amateurs. No senior amateurs. Where is everybody else? Why not all three days (at Augusta National)? These players will play well; they’re not going to tear up the golf course (for the Masters).”
Answers will come as the event evolves.
In looking at the Palmetto State representatives:
Olarra, who graduated from USC last year, won the 2018 SEC title and is ranked No. 10 among women in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. Hewson, named all-ACC three times, has represented Great Britain and Ireland twice on Curtis Cup teams and is No. 25 in the world rankings. All the Furman golfers have earned multiple Southern Conference and national honors with Srinivasan No. 29, Harford No. 63 and Chen No. 114 in the world rankings.
Chip shots. USC’s men’s team bolstered its hot streak to three tournaments — two wins and a third — with a seven-shot triumph in the Hootie at Bulls Bay. Junior Jamie Wilson led the Gamecocks, who jumped to 18th in the Golfstat national rankings. ... The Gamecocks’ women’s team saw its streak of strong finishes ended with an eight-place showing in the Evans Derby Experience. Clemson finished 12th in the Auburn, Ala. tourney. ... Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, who has signed to join the USC women’s team in the fall, won the 2019 Italian Amateur title. . . . Brian Quackenbush (Aiken) edged John Obrien (Columbia) to win the SCGA’s 40-Plus tourney at Florence CC. . . . Kennedy Gooding (Lexington) won the girls’ title and Simon Wright (Lancaster) led the boys in the Papa Ed Caddie Classic at Lancaster CC. . . . The annual Columbia Golf Ball, a fund-raiser for the Junior Golf Foundation, is set for April 11 at the USC Alumni Center. Call the SCGA 803-732-9311 for tickets. ... The Flora Golf Gathering, which benefits the school’s golf programs, will be held June 17 at Columbia CC with former state champions Will Murphy and Mary Lagare Augustine the guest speakers. Call coach Robert Dargan (803-414-5311) for details.