Megha Ganne sets scoring record to open Augusta National Women’s Amateur
Megha Ganne shot a 63 in the first round of ANWA (Credit: ANWA/Logan Whitton).
It was a day of low scores at Champions Retreat on the opening day of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Megha Ganne set the pace with an incredible 63 early in the day. This caught the attention of the field, who were immediately put into “chase mode.”
Ganne’s round was highlighted by a stretch of three straight birdies on hole No. 11-13. Walking to the 14th tee, she was 8-under par. The Stanford star opened her round with a birdie and then made an eagle on the par-5 third. The birdies kept coming for Ganne, and she is now a record holder at an event that boasts the strongest field in women’s amateur golf.
Ganne’s former Stanford teammate, Rose Zhang, held the single-round scoring record with a 65 in the second round of the 2023 ANWA. Zhang would go on to win the event.
After the round, Ganne was asked if she might text Zhang to let her know her record was broken.
“I don’t know if I will. I probably should now that you bring it up,” Ganne said. “That’s probably the first time I can say I’ve beaten her in something, so I will.”
Champions Retreat has tested players over the years, but Ganne thinks the course might be a little easier this year due to some lost trees after Hurricane Helene damaged much of the area in September. The storm also affected Augusta National, and fans will get a firsthand look at the changes there on Saturday.
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“You can hit driver off those holes more comfortably. You have a shorter club in,” Ganne said following the round. “Those trees would bat your ball down. I think the course is playing at least a stroke easier.”
After dealing with a left hip injury last summer, Ganne is feeling fresher and stronger. She was forced to put the clubs down and work on mobility and flexibility.
“I think I’m just able to move through the ball better after working on strengthening my hip,” Ganne said. “Definitely helpful to have some shorter clubs in.”
While Ganne’s stunning 63 has her sitting atop the leaderboard alone, there is a cadre of talented players lurking just behind her.
England’s Lottie Woad, the reigning champion and current world No. 1 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com Women’s Rankings, carded a 7-under-par 65. Woad’s round included eight birdies and one bogey. Just like in last year’s final round, she finished strong, making birdies on three of the final six holes, including a 50-foot bomb on the 15th and a 15-foot putt on the 18th hole. The junior from Florida State is aiming to become the first player to win a second ANWA.
For many, Ganne’s 63 had players thinking about making birdies instead of trying to make the cut and earn a relished spot in the field for Saturday’s final round at Augusta National.
“I saw she (Ganne) was 9-under, and I was like, ‘Okay, I need to get something going,” Woad said following the round.
2022 champion Anna Davis had the same sentiment.
“It made me more focused on chasing her than trying to make the cut,” she said. Davis shot a solid 3-under 69.
University of Virginia’s Amanda Sambach grew up in the Home of American Golf at Pinehurst and is hoping to hear the roars of Amen Corner on Saturday in her fifth appearance in the ANWA. She’s off to a great start, shooting a bogey-free 5-under par 67. She is joined by Kiara Romero and Farah O’Keefe in third place.
Four players shot 68 – Meja Örtengren, Minseo Jung, Mackenzie Lee, and Carla Bernat Escuder.
The reigning U.S. Women’s and U.S. Junior Amateur champion, Rianne Malixi, had to withdraw on Wednesday evening with a back injury.
Following Thursday’s second round, the top 30 and ties will play on Saturday in the final round at Augusta National. On Friday, every player in the field will play Augusta National in a practice round.
“I think it’s the most exciting week in amateur golf, men’s or women’s, period,” Ganne said. “I think everyone in golf knows about it. They might not know about certain other tournaments, but when this one’s happening, people tune in.”
After the fireworks of the first day, it seems likely that many people will tune in on Thursday on the Golf channel at 1:30 p.m. to see if someone can catch Ganne and who will make the cut.
View results for Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA)
ABOUT THE
Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA)
54-hole stroke-play tournament that will include a
72 player international field. The field will include
winners of other recognized tournaments while also
utilizing the Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings.
The first two rounds will be played at
Champions
Retreat Golf Club before the field is cut to the low 30
and ties for the final round at Augusta National.
The tournament will be played the week before
the
Masters, concluding on Saturday.
View Complete Tournament Information
