Seve Ballesteros, José María Olazábal, Sergio García, Jon Rahm — and now Carla Bernat Escuder. The 21-year-old has joined an illustrious list of Spaniards to taste victory at Augusta National, clinching the Augusta National Women’s Amateur with a final-round 68 (-4).
Embed from Getty ImagesBorn in Castellón de la Plana, Spain, Bernat Escuder displayed remarkable consistency across all three rounds, finishing 12 under par for the tournament — one shot ahead of American Asterisk Talley, and three clear of last year’s champion and current world number one amateur, Lottie Woad.
Bernat Escuder began her round one shot back of Kiara Romero and defending champion Lottie Woad. Coached by Victor Garcia – Sergio’s dad, Bernat Escuder grabbed the outright advantage when she birdied the par five, eighth.
The Spaniard held off the chasing pack with composure, her trademark smile rarely leaving her face throughout the final round. After finding herself out of position on the 10th, she produced a superb up-and-down to save par.
Bernat Escuder all but sealed victory with a flawless birdie at the par-five 13th, where she confidently found the green with a fairway wood. Another birdie followed at the 15th, putting her firmly in control and on course for a historic win.
Nerves may have come into play in the closing stages after Bernat Escuder bogeyed the 17th, while the American Talley birdied both the 16th and 17th before parring the 18th to finish just one shot behind.
However, Bernat Escuder remained composed, executing flawlessly on the final hole to secure the win.
What is the ANWA?
The Augusta National Women’s Amateur was first introduced in 2018 by Chairman Fred Ridley, with the aim of increasing interest and participation in the women’s game while creating a rewarding pathway for future stars.
Jennifer Kupcho, currently ranked 47th in the Women’s World Golf Rankings (WWGR), became the inaugural champion in 2019. She produced a stunning finish, playing her final six holes in five under par, including an eagle on the par-five 13th at Augusta National.
The 2020 championship was cancelled due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, 17-year-old Tsubasa Kajitani of Japan became the first international winner, securing victory in a playoff against Wake Forest’s Emilia Migliaccio.
A year later, 16-year-old Anna Davis became the youngest champion in tournament history, carding a final-round 69 (-3) at Augusta National. Davis, who represented the USA in last year’s Curtis Cup, finished tied 12th this year.
In 2023, after spending two and a half years as the world’s top-ranked amateur, Rose Zhang defeated Jenny Bae in a two-hole playoff. Since turning professional in May 2023, Zhang has claimed two victories on the LPGA Tour.
Last year’s winner, Lottie Woad, birdied three of her final four holes to edge Bailey Shoemaker by a single stroke at the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhat’s the format for the ANWA?
An international field of 72 amateur women competed over 54 holes of stroke play at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. After 36 holes, the top 30 players and ties advanced to the final round at Augusta National Golf Club.
The opening two rounds were played on the Island and Bluff nines at Champions Retreat Golf Club, where Megha Ganne made history with a bogey-free 63 (-9) — the lowest round ever recorded at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur since its inception in 2018. Her stellar round included seven birdies and an eagle at the par-five 3rd.
Ranked 12th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Ganne was making her fifth appearance at ANWA — one of only three players to do so. She recorded her best finish to date, tying for 7th at seven under par.
In the second round, Ko Kurabayashi delivered the standout performance with a seven-under-par 65. After a challenging first round where she finished six over par, Kurabayashi bounced back superbly to make the cut.
In the final round, it was all about one woman. Carla Bernat Escuder’s victory not only secured her place in history but also earned her an invitation to the next five Augusta National Women’s Amateurs. She also qualifies for the U.S. Women’s Open, the AIG Women’s Open, the Chevron Championship, the Evian Championship, and any USGA, R&A, and PGA of America amateur championships for the next year.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe ANWA continues to deliver unforgettable moments, introduce emerging stars, and serve as the perfect warm-up for next week’s Masters tournament, where more drama is sure to unfold.
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