Augusta, Ga. — Clemson senior Alice Hewson became the first women golfer from England to compete at the Augusta National Golf Club in a competitive setting during the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur on Saturday. In her final round Hewson shot an even par 72, finishing the three-day event at one-over par and tied 10th.
Hewson’s final round consisted of five birdies, one bogey and two double bogeys coming on her first and last hole of the day. After her double bogey on one, the England native came back strong on two by getting up and down from the front bunker and sinking a 20-foot putt from above the hole for birdie.
After carding four consecutive pars on holes three-through-six, Hewson put her second shot on seven within two feet of the pin. Once her ball settled, she made a six-foot putt for birdie, moving back to even par for the day. She followed that up with her third birdie of the day on eight, as she landed her third shot four-foot from the pin from 50 yards out.
On the 13th hole, Hewson hit a great drive down the middle giving her a shot at making the green on the par five hole in two. She went for the green with her three-wood but ended up in Rae’s Creek. After she dropped, she was able to get up-and-down to save par by making a 24-foot putt.
Hewson had back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15. To make birdie on 15 she drained a 30-footer from the fringe bringing cheers from the crowd. Once she moved to two-under, her name appeared on the leader boards displayed around the Augusta National Course.
Wake Forest senior Jennifer Kupcho earned the prestigious honor of being named the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur Champion as she finished the event with at 10-under par score. She entered the final round on Saturday with a one-stroke lead over Maria Fassi a golfer for the University of Arkansas. Fassi finished second at six-under par.
Hewson and four others from the top 30 will travel from Augusta, Ga. to Sunset, S.C. for the first round of the Clemson Invitational that tees off Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. The top finisher of the five women coming straight from the ANWA is Beatrice Wallin of Florida State, who tied for seventh. Kaleigh Telfer of Auburn finished tied 12th at two-over while Amanda Doherty of Florida State shot four-over par to tie for 21st. Virginia’s Anna Redding shot seven-over par for the three rounds and finished in a tie for 26th.
