California teenager Davis wins Augusta National Women’s Amateur
Anna Davis entered the clubhouse on Saturday having to play a 25-minute waiting game. She left its confines a champion.
The 16-year-old Californian fired a 3-under 69 in the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur to outlast the LSU pair of Ingrid Linblad and Latanna Stone by a stroke.
“I’m still a little shocked,” Davis conceded in her victory press conference. “I don’t think it’s processed yet that I’ve won here. It’s pretty surreal to be honest.”
Davis needed a late charge Saturday as the tournament moved play from Champions Retreat, where the first two rounds were held, to Augusta National. Coming off a second round 76, she recorded a trio of birdies between the ninth and 13th holes before holding on for a one-shot win.
Stone headed into the home stretch seemingly in command sitting at 3-under with two holes to play after birdieing the par-3 16th. A double bogey on 17 and a bogey on 18 saw her lead evaporate and gave Davis the title.
Linblad, too, came on strong during Saturday’s final round before a bogey on 18 sent her into a tie for second. The Swede finished her afternoon 4-under, notching three birdies and a pair of eagles. But like Stone, Linblad bogeyed her 54th hole of the week to slip out of a possible playoff.
“It’s just heartbreaking,” Stone said. “I kinda knew where I stood on 17 and I was thinking ‘OK, Par out.’ I just didn’t have the right club and left myself with a difficult up and down. I was trying to be agressive and I just lost it. I thought I could get it back at 18, but I had a lot going on in my head with where I was at.”
Kentucky’s Jensen Castle led the local contingent in Saturday’s final round. Castle, who is from West Columbia, shot a 2-over 74 to finish the tournament 5-over and T12. The Gray Collegiate alum won the 2021 U.S. Women’s Amateur in August.
Spartanburg native and current Furman golfer Anna Morgan finished three shots back of Castle for an 8-over tournament total. Morgan faded some down the stretch, finishing 3-over on the back-nine.
“Stepping on the first tee, I got chills just like I did coming down Magnolia Lane,” she said. “It’s such a pretty place, such a fun place, and really had such an awesome day and awesome week.”
South Carolina freshman Hannah Darling also reached the final round, ending the week T27 after shooting a 7-over, 79 on Saturday.
Augusta National will next host the Masters beginning on Monday. Tournament play will start on Thursday and run through Sunday.
How to watch the first round of the Masters
When: Thursday, April 7
Where: Augusta National Golf Club — Augusta, Georgia
TV: ESPN from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Streaming: The official Masters website
Radio: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sirius XM
This story was originally published April 2, 2022 at 3:10 PM.
