We know the Masters doesn’t start until the back nine on Sunday, but apparently, neither does the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
The top-ranked amateur in the world Jennifer Kupcho was the author of the drama on Saturday in Georgia as the Wake Forest senior lost her one-stroke advantage in the middle of the round.
Trailing Arkansas’ Maria Fassi by two strokes after 12 holes, Kupcho hit the shot of her life into the famous par-5 13th hole, which led to a tournament-changing eagle.
With an eagle on No. 13 @jenniferkupcho is tied for the lead during the final round at #ANWAgolf pic.twitter.com/u7e3OK050r
— Augusta National Women’s Amateur (@anwagolf) April 6, 2019
Paying off her incredible shot, Kupcho tied Fassi with an eagle, but she wasn’t done.
With a par on the par-4 14th hole, Kupcho birdied the 15th and 16th holes to set up an iconic finish on the 18th hole at Augusta National.
Facing a familiar putt, Kupcho drained the 20-footer for birdie on the 18th hole to cement her place in Augusta National history as the first winner of the ANWA.
Incredible finish! Jennifer Kupcho goes five under through the final six holes to win the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur.#ANWAgolf pic.twitter.com/Eztbs59tZT
— Augusta National Women's Amateur (@anwagolf) April 6, 2019
Kupcho gets a spot in the next five Augusta National Women’s Amateurs as a winner of the event as well as spots in this year’s U.S. Women’s Open and British Open.
Kupcho earned an LPGA Tour card at Q-School last fall, so it’s unlikely she’ll compete in the ANWA, but it’s a nice feather in the cap for a young woman who has already claimed National Player of the Year honors during her final season at Wake Forest.
