Until 2012, shockingly enough, women were not allowed to play at the Augusta National. From there, to now, holding one of the prestigious women’s amateur events, the Augusta National has developed a lot over the past decade. The Augusta National Women’s Amateur will be starting its fifth edition on April 3rd which will end on the 6th.

The three-day, 54-hole championships allow the growing talent in women’s golf to have a chance to showcase their prowess and make a name in Georgia. And the organization has successfully launched four champions in the last five years (the 2020 edition was canceled due to COVID-19) who have gone to do great in their budding careers.

The ANWA Alum making it big on the Ladies European Tour

Jennifer Kupcho: When the first edition started in 2019 to grow women’s golf further, Jennifer Kupcho entered the event as the 2018 NCAA Individual Champion and was expected to perform as incredibly. The 26-year-old was coming off of two rounds of 68-71 at the Champions Retreat GC and had the final round at Augusta National. Kupcho then performed impressively to shoot the best and the lowest round of 5 under 67 to claim the title.

The record still stays and is one of the biggest achievements of the then-amateur golfer. After moving on from the ANWA, Kupcho made her debut on the LPGA Tour. In the last five years, the ANWA Alum has won thrice on it including her first major event in 2022 at the Chevron Championship. Deeming the win at Augusta National as life-changing, Kupcho learned a lot from her experience that probably still guides her.

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Tsubasa Kajitani: The Japanese golfer was the first international champion for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. In 2021, Tsubasa Kajitani shot a final round of 1 over 72 and was tied with Amelia Migliaccio. The two were then pushed into a sudden-death playoff. Kajitani played the hole after Migliaccio, when the American golfer made a bogey putt, leaving the then-17-year-old Kajitani to make a 3-foot par putt to win the event.

Even after her victory at ANWA, Kajitani has still not turned professional. At the 2024 Women’s Amateur, she will be one of the two past champions to be playing on the Champions Retreat Golf Course.

Rose Zhang’s fantastic recovery from an ordinary round

Anna Davis: The Auburn University amateur is the second past champion to be playing at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in 2024. Anna Davis won the ANWA in 2022, though coming into the final round, the Cal native was far away from contention. Favis finished round two at 4 over 76. However, in Saturday’s final round, she came back from behind and shot consecutive birdies to take the lead.

At the last hole, when her opponent, Latanna Stone made a bogey putt, it gave Davis the leverage to par putt and win the third ANWA in her debut year on the Augusta national. She finished 1 over 215 and will be again contesting for a win.

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Rose Zhang: The most celebrated and intense drama was created at the 2023 ANWA. Rose Zhang had shot 66 and 65 in the previous two rounds and was already believed to be the winner. However, the change of the course from Champions Retreat to Augusta National hampered Zhang’s skills. She started her round with a double bogey on hole one. But this was the start of several other bogeys she made throughout the round and lost the 5 strokes lead.

Standing at the 16th tee, after the 3-hour weather delay poised Zhang, she made three par putts and entered into the playoff against Jenny Bae. As Bae’s ball met with the pine straw on the 10th hole, Zhang watched the opportunity to make the putt and win the 2023 ANWA. Zhang has since turned pro and plays actively on the LPGA Tour where she has earned one victory so far.

These were the last four champions of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, after which their life did change drastically. At the 2024 edition, what dramatic turn of events will crown the new champion? It remains to be seen.

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