Teenage Left-Hander Davis Delights in Stunning Win

Augusta, Georgia, United States: Korean Bang Shin-sil and Australian Kirsten Rudgeley had the distinction of finishing as the leading Asia-Pacific performers in the third edition of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA).

Bang and Rudgeley both posted even-par closing rounds of 72 at Augusta National Golf Club.

With matching three-round aggregates of three-over 219, the duo claimed a share of eighth place on the final leaderboard, four strokes behind triumphant 16-year-old left-hander Anna Davis, one of 50 first-timers in the starting field of 72 players who had never stepped foot on Augusta National until playing a practice round on Friday.

Japan’s Rin Yoshida signed off with a 75 to end 20th on 223. That was one shot better than Indian Avani Prashanth (tied 21st) and two in front of Yin Xiaowen (24th). Yin’s China compatriot Zeng Liqi finished 30th on 230.

With her victory, Davis joins a short but distinguished list of champions of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. In the inaugural event in 2019, American Jennifer Kupcho outduelled Maria Fassi of Mexico. Both are now members of the LPGA Tour.

After a one-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the tournament resumed in 2021, with a number of returning players and a host of eager first-timers. After 54 holes, American Emilia Migliaccio and Japan’s Tsubasa Kajitani were tied at one-over. The 17-year-old Kajitani, who entered the final round trailing by five shots, won on the first hole of sudden-death.

Eight days later, inspired the victory of his countrywoman, Hideki Matsuyama became the first Japanese player to win the Masters.

Reflecting on her success, Davis, a high school sophomore from Spring Valley in California, said: “I’m still a little shocked – I don’t think it’s processed that I won here. It’s pretty surreal, to be honest. I’m pretty speechless. I can’t even fathom what just happened.”

Starting the day two strokes off the lead and playing with a composure that belied her years, Davis offset a lone bogey at the third hole with four birdies, including two in a row at Amen Corner, at the par-three 12th and the par-five 13th. With a three-under 69 she posted a winning total of 215, the only player to finish in red figures.

Ingrid Lindblad of Sweden and American Latanna Stone, teammates at Louisiana State University, tied for runner-up.

The long-hitting Lindblad eagled the par-five eighth and the par-five 15th holes to reach one-under and hold the lead. But after pars on 16 and 17, she drove into the fairway bunker on 18 and made a bogey. She shot the low round of the day, a four-under 68.

Stone described her finish as ‘heartbreaking’. She said she knew she was leading by two on the 17th hole and was just trying to safely par her way in but ran up a double-bogey six followed by a closing bogey.

Speaking of her approach shot at 17, she said: “I was trying to be aggressive and just kind of lost it. I thought I could get it back on 18, but I had a lot going on in my head with where I was at.”

But, echoing a sentiment voiced by players all week, Stone said the support she received from the patrons lining the holes was tremendous and, in her case at the end of her round, quite comforting. “I’m really overwhelmed,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting that. That really kind of brought me to tears. I’ve never experienced quite a large crowd like that, and I’m going to cherish it forever.”