The LPGA informed players of the changes during The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican.
BELLEAIR, Fla. – At long last, there will be a way for superstar amateurs to bypass Q-School and go directly to the LPGA. Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine first reported the news, noting that two separate programs will provide paths to both the LPGA and Epson Tour. The LPGA informed players of the changes at a meeting earlier this week during The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican.
The tour has confirmed that more details on the programs will be released next week at the CME Group Tour Championship.
The path that leads directly to the LPGA will be similar to the PGA Tour’s University’s Accelerated program, though the women’s version will be open to all amateurs rather than just college players.
“I love it so much,” Rose Zhang told Golfweek. “The criteria to get into the LPGA is very difficult, but if you have such a stellar career in the amateur league, then why not?”
Zhang, of course, bypassed what’s now known as LPGA Qualifying by winning her first LPGA event as a professional.
“We weren’t sure what the qualifications mean,” said Hannah Green, “and then they showed obviously who would’ve earned spots that are currently members and playing and it was only three people: Lydia (Ko), Rose and Leona (Maguire).”
Such a short list eased their minds that it wouldn’t be a rush of amateurs, Green said.
Most years won’t have anyone meet the threshold, in fact.
Lottie Woad of England and Lydia Ko of New Zealand pose for a photo on Day Four of the AIG Women’s Open at St. Andrews Old Course on August 25, 2024, in St. Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)
Players were told that Lottie Woad, the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur, would currently have 16 points under the new system.
The second program, Romine noted, will mirror the PGA Tour University rankings for those in their last two years of college.
The top players from those rankings will earn Epson Tour status.
Linn Grant liked the proposal but felt that the 20-point threshold could be dropped some in future years, noting the quality of talent in the amateur game.
“If you play that well during your amateur career, you should definitely have a spot out here,” said Grant. “You shouldn’t have to go to Q-School and all of that. You go to Q-School, you could be sick for a week or just play your worst golf for some reason.”
With LPGA Qualifying falling in November and December, college coaches have dealt with losing star players midseason for more than 15 years. This won’t solve the entire problem, of course, but it will help.
This year five college players advanced to December’s final stage, and they’ll each have to turn professional in order to compete. The deadline to inform the LPGA of their decision is Friday, Nov. 15.
U.S. captain Meghan Stasi’s side led 2-1 after the morning foursomes, but a chip-in from Sara Byrne on the 17th hole sealed a 2-and-1 win over Catherine Park and Zoe Campos in the afternoon session, pulling things even. Byrne, from Ireland, was paired with Lottie Woad.
“I’m absolutely delighted,” said GB&I captain Catriona Matthew. “At one point this morning it looked like we were going to be beaten three-nil, but then we had a good comeback. The standard of golf has been pretty amazing. The Americans have made a lot of birdies, we’ve made a lot of birdies, and it was exciting out there in the four-balls. I can see in the team that their confidence is growing just from that finish there this afternoon.”
One of the shining stars for the Americans was 15-year-old Asterisk Talley, who paired with Jasmine Koo for nine birdies in 14 holes during a convincing 5-and-4 win over Lorna McClymont and Mimi Rhodes.
Talley made a name for herself earlier this year when she won the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, leading wire-to-wire. Then she made her Augusta National Women’s Amateur debut before dominating the USGA circuit this summer.
In the afternoon session, Talley made birdies on holes No. 10, 11 and 13 to clinch the victory.
“I think both teams played extremely well,” said Stasi. “It was a really good start for us in the morning. We had a couple all-square matches that we came back and fought for. I think they’re going to learn a lot from today. It’s a long day out there for most of them.
“I think they’re going to learn a little bit more about each other’s games and just take that into tomorrow.”
Woad is the first female winner of the McCormack Medal from England.
Lottie Woad, who’s set to begin her third season at Florida State this fall after representing the GB&I team at the Curtis Cup, has been named winner of the Mark H. McCormack medal, the United States Golf Association and R&A announced Wednesday.
The McCormack medal is given to the leading female player in the 2024 World Amateur Golf Ranking. Ingrid Lindblad won the award last year.
Woad is the first female winner of the McCormack Medal from England. She also receives exemptions into the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills and next year’s AIG Women’s Open.
“I’m really happy to have won the McCormack Medal,” said Woad. “It rounds off a successful year for me and I’m honored to be named alongside the previous recipients of the medal.
“It was always a goal of mine to reach number one and become the world’s leading amateur golfer. It’s taken a while to get there but it’s nice to see all the hard work pay off and achieve this milestone.”
Earlier this year, the 20-year-old became the first European golfer to win the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in dramatic fashion after going birdie-birdie over the final two holes to clip USC’s Bailey Shoemaker by one shot.
She has amassed three victories in her collegiate career, including last fall at the Annika Intercollegiate. Woad has also recorded three second-place finishes, including the 2024 NCAA Women’s Golf Championship.
CARLSBAD, Calif. — Normally, when a player can’t stop practicing, it’s something a coach loves. In Lottie Woad’s case, it was the opposite.
Over the past year and a half, the Florida State sophomore has learned to be better about giving herself time off. Not exhausting every ounce of energy on practice to leave nothing for competition.
It’s something Seminoles’ coach Amy Bond and Woad discussed plenty this year. And those small changes are one of the things that have propelled Woad to stardom.
Woad, winner of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur last month, has been on a roll since her triumph at Augusta National, and that continued Friday during the opening round of the 2024 NCAA Women’s Golf Championship at Omni La Costa’s North Course. Woad had eight birdies in the opening round and is the solo leader after a 7-under 65 to open.
“She seems to be the Energizer bunny. She just keeps going and going and going,” Bond said of her star. “We’ve sent her away from the golf course a few times.”
Bond said it’s “unbelievable” how much Woad has picked up her play since winning the ANWA. She made her first major championship start, carding 17 birdies and finishing T-23. Then she returned to Florida State, after missing the ACC Championship to play in the Chevron, and finished third at the NCAA Las Vegas Regional, leading the tournament for a majority of the way.
Now, her elevated play is continuing at the national championship. After the morning wave, Woad has a one-shot lead over Clemson’s Isabella Rawl.
“There has been a lot of change for me recently, but I keep thinking it’s a good thing in order for all of this to happen,” Woad said. “All of the change has been really, really cool.”
Woad said playing with Madelene Sagstrom and Gabriela Ruffels in the first two rounds at the Chevron was important because of the conversations she was able to have with the two former amateur stars. That advice has helped her handle the tumultuous changes.
However, her skills on the golf course remain sharp. Woad turned in 3 under starting on Omni La Costa’s back nine, then she added five birdies on the front, including four in five holes.
Her confidence is as high as ever, and it’s something that is propelling her into another stratosphere.
“Not that she didn’t already have it because she certainly does now,” Bond said, “but now she truly knows she can get it done when she needs to.”
And after the opening round at NCAAs, Woad is proving again she’s a force to be reckoned with in the biggest events.
Lottie Woad would like to meet Nelly Korda, but she’s admittedly too scared to make the approach.
THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Lottie Woad would like to meet Nelly Korda, but she’s admittedly too scared to make the approach. If the Florida State sophomore, fresh off a victory at Augusta National, keeps playing this well at the Chevron Championship, their meeting might happen naturally.
World No. 1 Korda is one shot back of leaders Jin Hee Im and Atthaya Thitikul at the Chevron Championship at 7 under, with amateur Woad sitting four shots back. Woad, 20, is making her LPGA debut this week while 25-year-old Korda has won her last four consecutive starts on tour.
“To win four in a row is insane,” said Woad, who earned a spot in this field by birdieing three of the last four holes at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur to win by a shot. She moved up to No. 2 in the World Golf Amateur Ranking after that victory.
Woad, who shot 69 on Friday, had to choose between joining her teammates at the ACC Championship this week and playing a major. With her coach’s blessing, she got the last seat on a flight to Houston.
Korda, meanwhile, opened Round 2 with a double bogey, hitting two shots from a fairway bunker. She bounced back with birdie on the second hole, however, and never looked back.
“I actually didn’t feel bad at all,” she said of the early misfire.
Lottie Woad of England plays a shot on the second hole during the second round of The Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods on April 19, 2024, in The Woodlands, Texas. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
With the tees up 20 yards on the closing par 5, Korda hit 5-iron from 212 yards and two-putted for a closing birdie to shoot 69. Hae Ran Ryu, the 2023 Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year, carded a 66 to trail Korda by one.
Now, with a long wait before the start of her third round, Korda planned to get some lunch, get treatment and just chill.
“My parents are here,” she said, “so just going to go spend some time with them. Go get a good coffee and, yeah, just relax, watch a show or something.”
There’s a possibility of Korda and Woad playing together on Sunday at the Club of Carlton Woods on network television, though much can happen between now and then.
Plenty of folks on social media, however, view Korda’s victory as inevitable. Korda is quick to point out that it’s only the halfway point.
“Just going to stick to my process and vibe with it is what my coach says,” she said, smiling.
While Korda will rely heavily on the man who has been on her bag since she first started winning on tour six years ago, Woad just met her local caddie, Candy Herrera, earlier in the week.
Herrera played college golf with former Chevron winner Pernilla Lindberg at Oklahoma State and has been caddying at Carlton Woods for the past 10 years. Her husband, Daniel Rodrigues, is a pro at the club.
Herrera, who never turned professional and is caddying in her first professional event, said Woad does all of her yardages. Her main job is to keep Woad laughing and follow the lead of the other caddies.
“I try not to get in the way,” said Herrera, “so I tried to mirror what they were doing so I wouldn’t be an outlier in the group.”
Candy Herrera is a local caddie here at Carlton Woods. She played collegiate golf at Oklahoma State but never turned pro. She’s caddying in her first pro event this week with amateur Lottie Woad. pic.twitter.com/7CBKLaT2Wc
Woad had her father in Augusta along with her grandmother and an aunt. Her caddie for the ANWA was England national coach Steve Robinson. Her childhood swing coach was in the gallery along with her college coach and several teammates.
This week, however, Woad is mostly on her own. She’s trying to keep up with teammates at the ACCs but not so much her classes. Her first final exam is April 29 at 7:30 a.m. in American History. The Seminoles currently sit in sixth place through two rounds without Woad in the lineup.
So much has happened to Woad in the span of a fortnight that she hasn’t even had the chance to properly celebrate her last life-changing victory. Teammates welcomed her back to the airport in Tallahassee. There was a cake and former Seminole Frida Kinhult, who is in the field this week, made cupcakes. Kinhult also had an extra room for Woad at the Airbnb in Texas.
“I was trying to make sure I made the weekend,” said Woad of her aim for the week.
Woad, ranked No. 4 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, hasn’t finished outside the top 8 in college golf this season.
Lottie Woad faced a tough decision in the aftermath of her Augusta National Women’s Amateur. The victory comes with special invitations to four major championships, including next week’s Chevron Championship, which overlaps the ACC Championship.
Woad, a 20-year-old sophomore at Florida State, has opted to make her major championship debut at the Chevron April 18-21 at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas, in what will be her first LPGA start.
“I wasn’t really going to turn down a major,” said Woad, who had full support form her Seminole coaches.
The Englishwoman delivered a finish for the ages on Saturday in the final round at Augusta National, making birdie on three of the last four holes to beat USC’s Bailey Shoemaker by one stroke.
“If I’d been told before this week that I’d be two back with four to play, I would have been like, yeah, perfect, that sounds great,” said Woad. “To be in the mix on the back nine at Augusta is something that everyone dreams about.”
Woad, ranked No. 4 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, hasn’t finished outside the top 8 in college golf this season, with co-medalist honors at the Annika Intercollegiate.
With her parents and English national coach/caddie back home in England, Woad will be on her own in Texas, though former FSU player Frida Kinhult did have an extra room in her Airbnb. Woad is in the process of trying to find a local caddie for next week.
On Sunday at Augusta, Woad met Nancy Lopez and Tom Watson as she handed out awards at the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals. She also met 2016 Masters champ Danny Willett for the first time in the clubhouse.
It’s back to class for Woad this week in Tallahassee. On Tuesday night, she’ll throw out the first pitch in the sold-out FSU vs. Florida game on ESPN2. While Woad hasn’t played baseball, she did play cricket back home in England.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda headlines the field at Chevron after winning her fourth consecutive start on Sunday at the T-Mobile Match Play. Korda is the first American to win four consecutive starts on the LPGA since Nancy Lopez won five consecutive starts in 1978.
Woad received a warm welcome-home reception when she returned to Tallahassee. Kinhult made cupcakes. Check out the photos from the surprise gathering:
The 61-year-old serves as England’s national coach and works as the performance guru for countryman Matt Fitzpatrick.
Following the win, Robinson was quick to jab at Fitzpatrick’s longtime looper, Billy Foster.
“I can’t wait to tell Billy Foster, ‘Caddying isn’t all that hard,’” Robinson said. “I mean, what a proper finish. I’ve known Lottie since she was 14, and she’s always had the attributes to be the best player she could be.”
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Lottie Woad typically calls an Uber on Saturday mornings around 7:30 a.m. to get a lift to the golf course. The Florida State sophomore doesn’t have a car in the U.S., and while most college students her age are hitting snooze, Woad hits the practice facility. The Englishwoman’s work ethic is legendary.
“You think you work hard, and she works 10 times harder,” said teammate Charlotte Heath. “We have pros at our club, and Lottie outworks them all.”
When the moment came for that meticulous preparation to pay off on one of the biggest stages at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, the lion-hearted Woad delivered a finish for the ages.
After USC’s Bailey Shoemaker posted a course-record 6-under 66 to take the clubhouse lead at 7 under, Woad birdied three of the last four holes to overtake her. Woad joined Arnold Palmer in 1960 and Mark O’Meara in 1998 as champions at Augusta National Golf Club who birdied their final two holes to win by one shot.
“I was hoping it was going to be like a nice, stress-free day,” said Woad, “but it was far from that. In the end, it’s a cooler way to finish.”
Woad had English national coach Steve Robinson on the bag, and the pair put together a meticulous plan to attack the final round. They knew which hole locations they wanted to play short, and which ones were better to be long. With Woad’s magnificent approach play all week, most of the time, things went according to plan.
The mess of a bogey on the par-5 13th, however, proved an exception. Robinson gave her a pep talk after that hole and again on the 14th, though he wouldn’t divulge what was said.
The Augusta National Women’s Amateur is unique in that the 36-hole leader must sleep on the lead not one but two nights. Robinson said they talked about the fact someone would come for her. Even though she led by two going into the final round, it wouldn’t be surprising if she had to chase down the stretch.
Woad did her best to embrace it.
“If been told before this week that I’d be two back with four to play, I would have been like, yeah, perfect, that sounds great,” said Woad. “To be in the mix on the back nine at Augusta is something that everyone dreams about.”
When Shoemaker approached the 18th green on Saturday – five groups ahead of Woad – fans seemed almost oblivious to the kind of round she’d put together. They offered a polite applause as she walked up to the green with a few muffled whoops.
A brilliant two-putt from the back of the green brought a little more reaction. But it wasn’t until a man raised both hands and yelled “Six under! Great round!” that Shoemaker finally started to get a proper reaction for a record day.
She gave one more glance back at the giant scoreboard on No. 18 as she walked off the green, leading by one.
Woad, ever the board-watcher herself, knew exactly what needed to be done.
Lottie Woad reacts after sinking the winning putt on no. 18 during the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Luke Bone began working with Woad at Farnham Golf Club when she was 7 years old. Bone, 37, has had to up his teaching game as Woad upped hers, though he still works with the 80-year-olds at the club as well as the up-and-coming teens.
Over the years, Bone preserved the unique patterns of Woad’s powerful swing and focused mainly on the hitting area, making sure that she was stable with the clubface through impact so that she could control her ball-flight and shot shape.
Woad won the 2022 British Girls’ Amateur at Carnoustie before coming to Florida State, a move that has given her more months to practice on quality greens. If there’s a weakness in her game, it’s her putting, which is where she spent most of her time coming into this week.
This week, and Saturday in particular, stands out as one of the best weeks she’s had on the greens.
“Thankfully, it came at the right time,” she said.
Bond describes Woad as a player with a strong golf IQ who thrives on competition. Once a month she gets on a call with Bone to talk about Woad’s game. Woad has such a good handle on her game that Bond told her earlier this spring that they’re going to start getting super nitpicky.
“She’s always going to push to be the best,” said Bond.
Woad drained a 15-footer for birdie on the par-5 15th to pull within one and narrowly missed a good look on the 16th to tie. She’d get another chance on the 17th after hitting a wedge from 104 yards to 12 feet.
After piping another brilliant drive, she hit a little 9-iron from 130 pin high and poured in another 15-footer to close with a 69 and an 8-under total. World No. 1 Ingrid Lindblad notched her third top-three finish at this event, finishing alone in third, four back. She stayed at LSU for a fifth year, in part, for one more shot at winning this event.
“I feel every time I come in here, I just have a smile on my face,” said Lindblad. “It doesn’t matter how it goes. You’re happy to be here.”
Bond, who was standing behind the 18th when the putt dropped, threw both hands in the air, calling it “big time.”
“The kid’s just got the ‘it’ factor,” she said.
Lottie Woad speaks during a ceremony following the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Woad’s 85-year-old grandmother made the trip to America to watch her play and caught most of the action on Saturday. She’d been taking long walks back in England to prepare the week.
Marian was there on the 18th along with Woad’s father and an aunt. Younger sister Milly had exams and stayed said back in England with mom.
“I hope they enjoyed it,” she quipped during the trophy ceremony.
With the win, Woad receives exemptions into four of the five LPGA majors, including the Chevron Championship two weeks from now. The Chevron happens to fall on the same dates as the ACC Championship, which means Woad will soon have a tough decision to make.
Asked early in the week what makes Woad unique, Robinson said she’s prepared to pay the price to be successful.
It paid off handsomely. The gritty Woad scripted a sublime finish at Augusta National that won’t soon be forgotten.
After an opening round of 77 last year at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, Lottie Woad stood over a 5-foot putt for birdie on the 18th, hands trembling. It was a straight putt, but sometimes straight putts can be the worst to face.
Was it really straight?
Woad needed to convert to shoot 69 at Champions Retreat Golf Club and qualify for Saturday’s final round at Augusta National. She trusted the line and made the putt and the cut on the number, becoming one of three English players to advance to the final round. Another was Woad’s Florida State teammate Charlotte Heath. Both return for a second AWNA start April 3-6 in Augusta, Georgia.
They’ll be joined by Mirabel Ting a sophomore transfer from Malaysia who began her college career at Augusta University, where she helped the program qualify for its first NCAA Championship last spring not long after losing her father.
“She is one of the few players I’ve ever had that literally hits the center of the clubface every time,” said FSU coach Amy Bond. “The wear pattern on her 8-iron is perfect.”
Last month, Ting returned to Augusta for the Valspar Augusta Invitational at Forest Hills, which she won. Bond said Ting was understandably nervous heading back to Augusta after she left the program, but a couple of warm hugs in the parking lot from familiar faces help lighten the mood.
“Any kid of substance is going to be nervous going back to where they transferred from,” said Bond.
As Ting makes her ANWA debut, Woad, currently No. 4 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, will once again have English national coach Steve Robinson on the bag. Robinson also works as a performance coach for U.S. Open champion Matthew Fitzpatrick and took notes from Fitzpatrick’s caddie last year about how to handle the elevation.
Lottie Woad (courtesy FSU athletics)
Heath, who will have a local caddie on the bag, said playing a practice round with Robinson was massive because he’s particularly good at helping players map out a course – which hole locations are greens lights and which ones are red.
Heath, 22, has been a member of England’s women’s national squad since age 17 and was part of the girls team two years prior to that.
“It’s been a real team,” said Heath of the cohesiveness of Team England. “Everyone wants everyone to do well. We’re texting each other year-round, really making time for each other.”
The big family atmosphere that Health describes rings familiar to other national systems. Team Sweden, for example, makes it a point to involve successful pros in its training programs so that the wisdom can be passed down.
Earlier this week, the USGA announced the inaugural U.S. National Junior Team, which is composed initially of 10 girls and eight boys. The plan is to grow the team to 30 boys and 30 girls over the next three years. Two members of the girls team – Asterisk Talley and Gianna Clemente – are in the ANWA field.
Former USC men’s head coach Chris Zambri, the first head coach for the U.S. National Development Program will be onsite in Augusta. Zambri began his role with the program last November.
“It’s about time,” said Bond. “Now our American players can start getting the funding and support they need.”
The first time Bond had a chance to watch Woad in person after Covid-19 travel restrictions lifted was at the 2022 R&A Girls Amateur at famed Carnoustie, where Woad beat Spain’s Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio, 7 and 6, in the championship match. Bond thought she’d hit the jackpot.
The long-hitting Woad has six top-8 finishes this season for FSU, including a win at the Annika Intercollegiate last fall, where she co-medaled with three other players. It was a strange little stretch for Woad, who pulled a hamstring, cut her finger making a bagel and hit herself on the bridge of her nose with her 4-wood during the tournament. Coaches feared the whack might have caused a concussion.
The elder Heath has warmly looked after Woad during her time in Tallahassee. Heath had a chance to play for an LPGA card last December but opted to skip the final stage of Q-Series and head back to school for a final semester. She’ll graduate in May with a degree in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences.
“I’m hoping not to use it,” she said.
While Woad turns heads with her long game, Bond calls Health’s short game one of the best she’s ever seen. It’s no wonder that they’ve partnered in foursomes a couple times for Team England and shot 8 under both times.
Heath, who won the Smyth Salver for low-amateur honors at last year’s AIG Women’s British Open, recently made a change in swing instructors, opting for a U.S.-based coach as she heads onto the Epson Tour this summer. Her ball position had gotten too far forward and she was coming over the top and lunging at the ball, Bond said. She’s already made vast improvements.
“It takes a lot of guts right before you’re going to turn pro to say I need to make a change and I need to make it now,” said Bond. “That’s a leap.”
Bond described Woad as a high-IQ player who works tirelessly on her game. Once a month Bond gets on a call with Woad and her swing coach, Luke Bone, to nitpick her game because she has such a good handle on the overall picture
Augusta National pays for one loved one to make the trip over to watch the action and that’s a big deal for international players like Woad and Heath. Woad’s 85-year-old grandmother will make her first trip to the U.S. in the coming days along with her father and an aunt. Heath’s parents will be there, too.
The ANWA is at the top of the heap when it comes to amateur golf, said Woad. And she’s not just talking about the trophy.
“When I was out there playing Augusta National,” said Woad, “and you have the crowds of young girls and boys watching. It’s a little bit more than us playing a golf tournament, honestly.”
Four golfers shared medalist honors after a crazy finish in Minnesota.
LAKE ELMO, Minn. — Kiara Romero stood next to her coach, Derek Radley, on the side of the 18th green.
The freshman at Oregon just walked in a birdie putt on the final hole of her first college tournament. She had no idea where it put her on the leaderboard, but everyone else did.
It gave her a share of the lead.
Radley whispered to Romero that she had won. She threw her hands over her mouth as tears filled her eyes.
Romero was one of four who shared medalists honors Wednesday after the final round of the 2023 Annika Intercollegiate at Royal Golf Club. She, along with South Carolina’s Louise Rydqvist, Duke’s Phoebe Brinker and Florida State’s Lottie Woad all finished at 8-under 208 for the tournament, a grand start to the year at one of the deepest events in women’s college golf.
Oregon freshman Kiara Romero birdies her final hole to move to 8 under, which will give her a tie for medalist honors in her first tournament. South Carolina will win the team title #ANNIKAInterpic.twitter.com/jgDbjgQgxh
“I thought I was going to have to make an eagle on the last hole to get the win,” Romero said. “I just wanted to make birdie so I could be in the top three or something.”
However, the birdie was good enough to earn Romero, the 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior champion, a college win in her first start.
It was also the first win for Rydqvist, a junior who had a 4-foot putt for birdie on 18 to win outright, but it slid by. Nevertheless, she’s not going home empty handed, as South Carolina won the team title at 26 under, beating Oregon by three strokes and defending event champion and national champion Wake Forest by four.
Rydqvist also earned a coveted exemption into the inaugural The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican taking place Nov. 6-12 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. One player from the winning team earned a spot in the field, and Gamecocks’ coach Kalen Anderson chose Rydqvist, from Sweden, for the honor.
South Carolina’s Louise Rydqvist earned an exemption to the 2023 The Annika after her team won the 2023 Annika Intercollegiate. (Photo: Ben Adelberg/The Back of the Range)
“I think I need a minute because it hasn’t sunk in yet,” Rydqvist said. “It feels absolutely incredible. I can’t wait to get down there.”
The Annika, an official LPGA event, will offer a $3.25 million purse, one of the largest outside of the majors. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Annika Foundation.
Each of the four medalists shot 2-under 70s in the final round. Wake Forest’s Mimi Rhodes and South Carolina’s Maylis Lamoure, who were the 36-hole leaders, both missed birdie putts on the final hole to join the winners and finished at even-par 72.
For Woad, a sophomore, it’s the third win of her collegiate career. Brinker, a senior, won for the second time, including a win at the 2022 ACC Championship. She finished fourth last year at the Annika Intercollegiate and lost in a playoff at the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invite in the spring.
The four co-medalists of the 2023 Annika Intercollegiate, from L-R: South Carolina’s Louise Rydqvist, Duke’s Phoebe Brinker, Florida State’s Lottie Woad and Oregon’s Kiara Romero. (Photo: Ben Adelberg/The Back of the Range)
Meanwhile, South Carolina had a lead as big as 10 shots early in the final round, but it also shrunk to as small as one on the back nine. Two-time first-team All-American Hannah Darling and freshman Vairana Heck each made pivotal birdies down the stretch, as well as Rydqvist and Lamoure, to help South Carolina pull back away.
It’s the third time South Carolina has won the Annika Intercollegiate.
“It was awesome, what a great way to start the season,” Anderson said. “We had a really great qualifier, and it’s nice to see them come out and play great golf.”
Heck shot 4-under 68 on Wednesday, which tied the low round of the day, and finished T-9. Darling finished 17th at 3 under.
Thanks to a pair of 18th-hole eagles from Briana Chacon and Minori Nagano, Oregon moved into second place past defending champ Wake Forest. Freshman Macy Pate finished T-9 at 6 under for the Demon Deacons while Carol Chacarra tied for 15th at 5 under.
Chacon, Lamoure, Rhodes and Texas freshman Farah O’Keefe finished runner-up at 7 under.
