Meet the field: Internationals competing in the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur


AUGUSTA, Ga. — The world’s best women’s amateur golfers are once again bound for this haven on the Georgia/South Carolina border.

The third Augusta National Women’s Amateur tees off this week with 42 of the top-50 players in the women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking all dreaming of that trip down Magnolia Lane.

The field of 72 – 33 Americans and 39 internationals – will play two rounds of stroke play at nearby Champions Retreat Golf Club on Wednesday, March 30, and Thursday, March 31, with the top-30 players advancing to the final round on Saturday, April 2. The entire field of 72 will play Augusta National for a practice round Friday, April 1.

Get to know the International players competing in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Meet the field: Americans competing in the ANWA

Age: 17
Hometown: Anseong, South Korea
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Played well on the KLPGA and in amateur events in 2021. Most-recently finished T-29 in October at the KLPGA’s 21st HITE JINRO Championship and a month later finished 25th at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship. Member of the Korean national team.

 

Age: 18
Hometown: Castellon, Spain
Education: Tulane, freshman
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Won the Spanish Women’s Amateur last March and is an active member of the national team.

Age: 18
Hometown: Midlothian, Scotland
Education: South Carolina, freshman
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Started her college career with three top-10s, including a runner-up at one of the best events on the schedule, the 2021 ANNIKA Intercollegiate in her Gamecock debut. Represented the Great Britain & Ireland in the Curtis Cup, won the R&A Girls Amateur at Fulford, finished runner-up at the Scottish Women’s Open and reached the semifinals of both the Women’s Amateur Championship and Scottish Women’s Amateur.

South Carolina’s Hannah Darling. (Photo: South Carolina Athletics)

Age: 22
Hometown: West Kilbride, Scotland
Education: University of Stirling
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Ended a 24-year drought for Scottish golfers at the Women’s Amateur Championship with a 9-and-8 victory over Johanna Lea Ludviksdottir in the 36-hole final, the largest margin of victory ever. Finished T-10 to earn low amateur honors at the Women’s British Open at Carnoustie two months later. Member of the 2021 GB&I Curtis Cup team.

AIG Women's Open - Day Three

Louise Duncan of Scotland (a), reacts as she finishes her round at the 18th hole during Day Three of the AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie Golf Links on August 21, 2021, in Carnoustie, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Age: 22
Hometown: Berlin, Germany
Education: Arizona State, senior
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Enters the ANWA off a win at the PING/ASU Invitational. Member of the German national team won the 2021 German Women’s Amateur and then finished runner-up in the European Ladies’ Amateur.

Alexandra Forsterling, Arizona State

Alexandra Forsterling, Arizona State (Photo: ASU Athletics)

Age: 19
Hometown: London, England
Education: Florida, junior
ANWA history: 3rd appearance

Two-time Curtis Cup team member and in 2021 made the cut at the Women’s British Open, advanced to the semifinals of the English Women’s Amateur and quarterfinals of the Women’s Amateur Championship. Made the cut at last year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Golf runs in the family with Fuller’s older sister, Samantha, who plays at UNLV.

Age: 20
Hometown: Ontario, Canada
Education: Clemson, sophomore
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Became the first Canadian Drive, Chip & Putt national champion in 2017 and the first Tiger to make a hole-in-one in competition at their own 2021 Clemson Invitational. After being diagnosed with a heart condition at 14 years old, Grewal underwent a successful surgery in November 2020.

Age: 19
Hometown: Hyōgo, Japan
Education: Tohoku Fukushi University
ANWA history: 1st apperance

Ended 2021 with a win at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship. Shares a spot of history with major champions Cristie Kerr, Inbee Park, Lexi Thompson, Ariya Jutanugarn, Hyo Joo Kim, and Brooke Henderson as winners of the Girls Junior Orange Bowl (2020).

Age: 18
Hometown: Gyeonggi Province, Korea
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Won the 2021 Korea Women’s Amateur and also earned two top-10 finishes in KLPGA professional events, including a T-4 in the Korea Women’s Open.

 

Age: 22
Hometown: Prague, Czech Republic
Education: Texas, senior
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Worst finish this year is a T-26, has three in the top 10. Member of the Czech Republic national team. Won the Czech Ladies Challenge on the LET Access Series in June.

Sara Kouskova

Sara Kouskova. (Photo: Texas Women’s Golf)

Age: 22
Hometown: Stuttgart, Germany
Education: Stanford, senior
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Often overshadowed by her teammates Rachel Heck and Rose Zhang, Krauter has finished in the top-10 five times this season, with a T-16 as her worst finish. Won the 2020 Women’s Amateur Championship and earned invites to the 2021 ANWA and ANA Inspiration, a professional major championship. Held on the same dates, Krauter chose the ANA and was lone amateur in the field.

2021 U.S. Women's Amateur

Aline Krauter tees off on the fifth hole during the Round of 64 at the 2021 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Westchester Country Club in Rye, N.Y. (Photo: Darren Carroll/USGA)

Age: 22
Hometown: Bintulu, Malaysia
Education: Michigan, senior
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Honorable mention All American last season and is on pace to set the Wolverine scoring record with a 71.81 average. Has two wins, a runner-up and four top-five finishes this season already.

Ashley Lau

Ashley Lau. (Photo: Tom Wywrot, Michigan Athletics)

Age: 15
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Won the 2021 KB Financial Group Cup, was runner-up in the 25th Maekyung Amateur and competed in four KLPGA Tour events. At just 12-years-old in 2019, Lee won both individual and team gold medals for Korea in the Spirit International. 2020 Korean Women’s Amateur champion.

Age: 17
Hometown: Herlev, Denmark
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Won three times in 2021. Runner-up in the German Women’s Amateur and LET Access Series in France.

Age: 21
Hometown: Halmstad, Sweden
Education: LSU, junior
ANWA history: 2nd appearance

Finished one shot shy of a playoff at last year’s ANWA. Set an LSU program record with her eighth win (second in a row) at the recent Clemson Invitational. Has 21 top-10 finishes in 26 college starts and has only ever finished outside the top 25 twice.

Age: 18
Hometown: Madrid, Spain
Education: Wake Forest, freshman
ANWA history: 2nd appearance

Missed the cut in her ANWA debut last year. Three top-five finishes this season, including back-to-back wins in February for Wake Forest. Older brother, Eugenio, currently plays for Oklahoma State.

Carolina Chacarra, Wake Forest

Teams participate at the Wake Forest Bryan National Collegiate at the Bryan Park Champions Course on Monday, September 27, 2021 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Wake Forest Athletic Communications)

Age: 20
Hometown: Taipei, Chinese Taipei
Education: Oregon, sophomore
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Earned her first win last fall and set a school record for 54-hole scoring at 17 under and has been one of Oregon’s best players this season. Was the highest-ranked player from Asia in the 2020 class.

Hsin-Yu (Cynthia) Lu

Oregon’s Hsin-Yu (Cynthia) Lu. (Photo: Oregon Women’s Golf)

Age: 20
Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa
Education: TCU, freshman
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Defended her South African Women’s Amateur title in 2021 and finished in the top-four three times in professional events across South Africa. Enters the ANWA on a run of consecutive top-five finishes.

Caitlyn Macnab

TCU’s Caitlyn Macnab. (Photo: TCU Women’s Golf)

Age: 22
Hometown: Brisbane, Australia
Education: Virginia Tech, senior
ANWA history: 1st appearance

One of the best players in program history. Has four top-five finishes in seven events this year and has shot par or better in 12 of 20 rounds. Last season Mahar and Becca DiNunzio became Virginia Tech’s first All-ACC players.

Emily Mahar - Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech’s Emily Mahar. (Photo: Marc Guertin)

Age: 21
Hometown: Bristol, England
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Transferred to Oklahoma State from Kent State and won twice, didn’t finish worse than fourth and then re-entered the transfer portal despite her success for the Cowgirls. Represented Great Britain & Ireland in the Curtis Cup.

Caley McGinty

Caley McGinty. (Photo: Oklahoma State Women’s Golf)

Age: 19
Hometown: Milan, Italy
Education: Arizona, freshman
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Has finished in the top-15 in each of her starts for the Wildcats. Member of the Italian national team. Practiced in her grandmother’s courtyard when pandemic restrictions in Italy closed the country’s golf courses. Enjoys cooking for her teammates.

Melgrati

Arizona’s Carolina Melgrati. (Photo: Mike Christy/Arizona Athletics)

Age: 20
Hometown: Vicenza, Italy
Education: Alabama, sophomore
ANWA history: 2nd appearance

Won The Ally earlier this year n addition to three other top-10 finishes. SEC Freshman of the Year and 2021 first team all-conference selection. Won the 2021 Italian Women’s Stroke Play and finished T-6 in the European Ladies Amateur. Older sister, Angelica, also plays for the Tide.

benedetta

Benedetta Moresco during the Annika Invitational. (Annika Foundation)

Age: 19
Hometown: Japan
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Competed in three LPGA of Japan events in 2021, with her best finish coming at the Panasonic Open Ladies Golf Tournament (53rd).

Age: 17
Hometown: Linkoping, Sweden
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Won three times in three different countries last year: German Girls Open, the Annika Invitational Europe in Sweden and the AJGA’s Tournament of Champions in the U.S. Member of the Swedish national team.

Meja Ortengren

Meja Ortengren. (Photo: Annika Foundation)

Age: 20
Hometown: Bucaramanga, Colombia
Education: Michigan State, senior
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Won the Women’s Amateur Latin America, represented the victorious Colombian team in the South America Women’s Amateur Team Championship claimed the Patriot All-America Invitational to end last year. Made the cut at the 2021 Meijer LPGA Classic. Semifinalist at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur.

2021 U.S. Women's Amateur

Valery Plata plays a shot on the fourth hole during the round of 16 at the 2021 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Westchester Country Club in Rye, N.Y. on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. (Kathryn Riley/USGA)

Age: 15
Hometown: Bengaluru, India
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Earned four wins and top-10 finishes in all 15 events in India last year. Wants to win a gold medal for India in the 2024 Olympics in Paris and become the No. 1 player in the world.

Age: 21
Hometown: Carramar, Australia
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Won the Avondale Amateur in Australia, as well as the English Women’s Amateur and Scottish Women’s Amateur. Qualified for the Women’s Open at Carnoustie but missed the cut.

Age: 18
Hometown: St. Leon-Rot, Germany
Education: Arizona State University (Commit)
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Earned a runner-up finish in the German Women’s Match Play, finished fourth in the German Girls Open and represented Europe in the Junior Solheim Cup in 2021. Won European Ladies Amateur and Swiss International Women’s Championships in 2020.

Age: 21
Hometown: Vienna, Austria
Education: UCLA, junior
ANWA history: 2nd appearance

T-3 in her ANWA debut last year. Won the NCAA Simpsonville Regional and Austrian Women’s Stroke Play in 2021 and finished runner-up at the NCAA Championship. Was the first Austrian to win the R&A Girls Amateur Championship in 2018.

2021 U.S. Women's Amateur

Emma Spitz tees off on the 10th hole during the first round of stroke play at the 2021 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Westchester Country Club in Rye, N.Y. on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. (Darren Carroll/USGA)

Age: 19
Hometown: Geneva, Switzerland
Education: Stanford, freshman
ANWA history: 1st appearance

A freshman top-five machine for a loaded Stanford team. Finished runner-up in her college debut at the Molly Intercollegiate and finished T-5 at the Stanford Intercollegiate. Competed in two Ladies European Tour events in 2021. Older brother, Maximilien, plays at Florida Atlantic.

Caroline Sturdza

Stanford’s Caroline Sturdza. (Photo: Stanford Women’s Golf)

Age: 17
Hometown: Singapore
Education: Texas Tech (Commit)
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Singapore’s first-ever ANWA competitor. Recently finished T-19 at the professional Vic Open and fifth at the first-ever Junior Invitational at Sage Valley to include women. Won six events in Singapore in 2021 and competed in a KLPGA Tour event in South Korea.

Age: 22
Hometown: Bangkok, Thailand
Education: Oklahoma State, sophomore
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Played the Honda LPGA Thailand earlier this month. Has two top-three finishes this season with a runner-up at the Shooner Classic and second collegiate win during stroke play at the East Lake Cup. Won first college event at the Icon Invitational and later earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year and All-American honors in 2021.

Rina Tatematsu

Oklahoma State’s Rina Tatematsu. (Photo: Oklahoma State Women’s Golf)

Age: 16
Hometown: Yamanashi, Japan
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Finished runner-up finish in the Japan Women’s Amateur and played in six LPGA of Japan Tour events last year.

Ayaka Tezuka

Amateur Ayaka Tezuka of Japan hits her tee shot on the 5th hole during the final round of the Mitsubishi Electric/Hisako Higuchi Ladies at Musashigaoka Golf Course on October 31, 2021, in Hanno, Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images)

Age: 22
Hometown: Olofstrop, Sweden
Education: Florida State, senior
ANWA history: 3rd appearance

Finished T-7 in 2019 and T-10 in 2021 at Augusta National. Earned two wins and five more top-10 finishes in eight starts last year and was a first-team All-America and All-ACC selection.

USATSI 16134738

Florida State golfer Beatrice Wallin hits out of the 18th bunker during the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club. (Photo: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)

Age: 21
Hometown: Kildare, Ireland
Education: Wake Forest, junior
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Made the cut at the Women’s British Open at Carnoustie last season and was an All-American with six top-15 finishes in seven starts. Used to play Gaelic football growing up.

Walsh.Lauren UNC34

Lauren Walsh of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons follows through on her tee shot during second-round action at the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invite at the UNC Finley Golf Course on October 12, 2018, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Brian Westerholt/Sports On Film)

Age: 20
Hometown: Shanghai, China
Education: Stanford, junior
ANWA history: 2nd appearance

Has earned nine top-10 and 13 top-20 finishes in two and a half years at Stanford. Finished 15th last year at the ANWA and T-16 in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in Abu Dhabi. Ended last year with five consecutive top-seven finishes to claim first-team All-American and Pac-12 honors. Made the cut at the 2020 Chevron Championship. Won the 2019 U.S. Girls’ Junior.

Angelina Ye JT 022521 118

Angelina Ye during a match between San Jose State, Cal and Stanford University at Stanford Golf Course on February 27, 2021, in Stanford, California.

Age: 17
Hometown: Tianjin, China
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Earned seven top-four finishes in eight starts last year and won the Sunshine State Amateur and China Amateur. Became the youngest winner in the history of the China LPGA Tour in 2020 (15).

Xiaowen Yin

Xiaowen Yin of China plays her shot from the sixth tee during the final round of the HSBC Women’s World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club on March 06, 2022 in Singapore. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)

Age: 18
Hometown: Chiba, Japan
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Finished fourth at the Japan Women’s Amateur and tied for sixth at the JHGA Spring Championship. Older sister Yuri is a professional golfer.

Rin Yoshida

Rin Yoshida of Japan is seen on the 17th green during the final round of the 2021 JLPGA Final Pro Test at Joyo Country Club on November 5, 2021 in Joyo, Kyoto, Japan. (Photo by Ken Ishii/Getty Images)

Age: 15
Hometown: Jiangxi, China
ANWA history: 1st appearance

Played in six pro events in China in 2021, finished runner-up three times and didn’t finish worse than eighth. Won the 2020 China Amateur.





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