Players to watch at the 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Bel-Air Country Club

August 7, 2023

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It’s time for one of the premier women’s amateur championships.

The 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur begins Monday at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, as the field of 156 players will vie for their chance to capture the oldest trophy in women’s amateur golf, the Robert Cox Trophy.

This will be the 123rd U.S. Women’s Amateur, which began in 1895. There were a record 1,679 entries accepted for the championship.

Although the top three players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking aren’t in the field, including defending champion Saki Baba, there’s no shortage of star power who will be teeing it up near Beverly Hills.

Here’s a look at 10 players to watch at the 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Bel-Air Country Club.

Avery, ranked 10th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, is coming into the U.S. Women’s Amateur off a 48th-place finish at Pebble Beach in the U.S. Women’s Open last month. She was one of only four amateurs to make the cut there.

Amari Avery tees off on the 15th hole during the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Castle captured the 2021 U.S. Women’s Amateur in New York, and though she’s not defending champion, she’s the most recent winner teeing it up in California. She was only the third 63rd seed to win a USGA championship.

Jensen Castle poses with the Robert Cox Trophy after defeating Yu-Chiang Hou 2 and 1 in the final match at the 2021 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Westchester Country Club in Rye, N.Y. on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. (Darren Carroll/USGA)

Clemente advanced to the semifinals of match play at the U.S. Girls’ Junior last month in Colorado Springs. She also finished sixth in the junior division at the Mizuho Americas Open and 14th at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Her and Avery Zweig won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball earlier this year.

Gianna Clemente plays her shot from a bunker on the fifth hole during the third round of the Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National Golf Club on June 3, 2023 in Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Davis is the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 4, and she comes to Bel-Air in good form. She finished second in stroke play at the U.S. Girls’ Junior and advanced to the Round of 16. Davis also won the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Amateur Anna Davis plays her shot from the 18th tee during the second round of the 78th U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links on July 7, 2023 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Donegan, from Ireland, made a name for herself last month at Pebble Beach with her stellar play in the U.S. Women’s Open. Now she’s back in California looking for another strong performance.

Amateur Aine Donegan plays from the rough after taking a drop on the second hole during the second round of the 78th U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links on July 07, 2023 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Kuehn, the reigning ACC Player of the Year and Golfweek All-American, won the national championship with Wake Forest in May and played in her first major championship, the Amundi Evian, in July. She advanced to the Round of 16 last year.

Rachel Kuehn and caddie Alex Fitzpatrick react on the 14th tee during the second round of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give at Blythefield Country Club on June 16, 2023 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images)

Lignell of Sweden made a run at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, finishing third. She was also a first-team All-American at Ole Miss last season.

Andrea Lignell lines up a putt on the seventh hole during the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club on April 1, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Romero, an Oregon signee, won the U.S. Girls’ Junior last month, capturing the title in Colorado Springs 1 up. She finished third in the stroke-play portion, as well, so Romero heads to Bel-Air in strong form.

Kiara Romero holds the Glenna Collett Vare Trophy after winning the final match of the 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior at United States Air Force Academy Eisenhower Golf Club (Blue Course) in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Saturday, July 22, 2023. (Kathryn Riley/USGA)

Shoemaker, an incoming USC freshman, finished fourth at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley and made match play at the Women’s Amateur Championship in Europe and U.S. Girls’ Junior.

Bailey Shoemaker plays a shot on the eighth hole during the round of 16 of the 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash. on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Kathryn Riley/USGA)

Wilson, the 2022 U.S. Girls’ Junior winner and Oregon commit, won the stroke-play portion of the U.S. Girls’ Junior this year before falling in the Round of 32. She also finished fourth at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley in the spring.

Yana Wilson plays with a golf ball while waiting to hit her drive off the hole 17 tee box during the second round of the 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior at United States Air Force Academy Eisenhower Golf Club (Blue Course) in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. (Kathryn Riley/USGA)

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