The top female amateurs face a difficult decision when it comes to the first week of April. Many will play the second annual Augusta National Women’s Amateur, but the opposite event offers a career opportunity, too.
Ultimately, five amateurs have committed to play the ANA Inspiration, the first LPGA major of the season, on a sponsor exemption.
The tournament traditionally invites a handful of amateurs to compete in the event, and announced that lineup on Wednesday. Rose Zhang (Stanford commit), Kaitlyn Papp (Texas), Gabriela Ruffels (Southern California), Olivia Mehaffey (Arizona State) and Angelina Ye (Stanford) will all compete April 2-5 at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, among a strong LPGA field.
One more amateur will have the opportunity to play her way into the field the weekend before the event at the ANA Junior Inspiration, an AJGA sanctioned 54-hole invitational with a 48-woman field.
“This is one of our favorite traditions at ANA Inspiration,” said Shigeru Hattori, ANA Senior Vice President of the Americas. “The tradition is crucial to growing the sport and fostering the dreams of young female golfers around the world. We’re proud to help each amateur invitee’s dream take flight as they play with the ladies of the LPGA Tour this April.”
Zhang, ranked No. 1 in the Golfweek Junior Rankings, is the only junior in the event so far. Zhang won the ANA Junior Inspiration in 2018, qualifying for the 2018 ANA Inspiration, where she made the cut and finished a credible T-60.
Ruffels is the reigning U.S. Amateur champion and a junior at USC. Ye, a freshman at Stanford is also a USGA champion, having won the U.S. Girls’ Junior in July. Olivia Mehaffey, a senior at Arizona State, has twice represented Great Britain and Ireland at the Curtis Cup. Papp, the final amateur, is ranked No. 13 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and last year finished fifth at the ANWA.
All five women were eligible for the ANWA based on either world ranking or another exemption category.
“I am so happy to receive an invitation to play in the 2020 ANA Inspiration. I didn’t hesitate for a second as I really wanted to test my game with the professionals,” said Zhang. “My experience in the 2018 ANA Inspiration was absolutely amazing and I can’t wait to have a second chance after everything I learned when I played in 2018.”
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