Meet the field: Americans competing in the 2023 Augusta National Women’s Amateur

Age: 19
Hometown: Riverside, California
Education: Southern California, sophomore
ANWA history: Third appearance

Avery finished T-4 last year, closing with a 73 at Augusta National. She has finished in the top 10 in six of her nine starts for USC, including her fourth collegiate win at the Windy City Collegiate. Last summer, she went 8-1-0 in the Curtis Cup and Arnold Palmer Cup and reached the Round of 16 in the U.S. Women’s Amateur at Chambers Bay.

Team USA player Amari Avery reacts after putting on hole one during Four-Ball Matches at the 2022 Curtis Cup at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. on Saturday, June 11, 2022. (Chris Keane/USGA)

Age: 21
Hometown: Suwanee, Georgia
Education: Georgia, fifth-year senior
ANWA history: Second appearance

Bae has finished inside of the top five in seven events for the Bulldogs this season, including a win at the Illini Invitational and runner-up finishes at the Mason Rudolph and Collegiate Invitational. In 2021, Bae won the Georgia Women’s Amateur and Georgia Women’s Open in the same week.

Georgia’s Jenny Bae. (Photo: Georgia Athletics)

Age: 21
Hometown: Wilmington, Delaware
Education: Duke, junior
ANWA history: Second appearance

Brinker closed her sophomore season by winning the 2022 ACC Championship. This season, she has finished inside of the top 20 five times, including a playoff loss at the Tar Heel Invitational and a fourth-place finish at the Annika Intercollegiate. Brinker’s aunt is Suzy Whaley, who served as the first woman president of the PGA of America from 2018-20.

Phoebe Brinker after claiming medalist honors at the 2022 ACC Championship. (Photo: ACC)

Age: 22
Hometown: West Columbia, South Carolina
Education: Kentucky, senior
ANWA history: Second appearance

The winner of the 2021 U.S. Women’s Amateur will make her second appearance at the ANWA, coming off a T-12 last year. She has finished in the top 15 in six of her seven starts for Kentucky this season, including her first victory at the Tar Heel Invitational. Castle won her U.S. Women’s Amateur at Westchester Country Club.

Jensen Castle, who won the 2021 U.S. Women’s Amateur, captured the 2022 Tar Heel Invitational. (Photo: Kentucky Athletics)

Age: 21
Hometown: Whittier, California
Education: Oregon, senior
ANWA history: Second appearance

Chacon has finished inside of the top 20 in three of her six starts this season, including a runner-up finish at the East Lake Cup and a T-7 at the Pac-12 Preview. She also placed T-4 at the Patriot All-America in Arizona on New Year’s Eve. Chacon is a two-time All-American.

Oregon’s Briana Chacon lines up a putt on the ninth hole of the Eugene Country Club on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, during the third day of the 2022 Pac-12 Women’s Golf Championship. (Photo: Ben Lonergan)

Age: 21
Hometown: Sugar Land, Texas
Education: Duke, junior
ANWA history: First appearance

Chen was born in Australia but moved to Texas in 2010. She competed in the U.S. Women’s Open in 2017. She has two top-15 finishes for Duke this season, including a T-4 at the Windy City Collegiate. She finished fourth at the ACC Championships as a freshman and went 1-1-0 in match play in the NCAA Championships.

Duke competes at the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational at the Governor’s Club on Monday, October 17, 2022, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Duke Athletics)

Age: 21
Hometown: Wilmington, Delaware
Education: Virginia, junior
ANWA history: First appearance

Cleary has finished inside the top 15 in three of her six starts this fall, including a T-5 at the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate. Last year, she reached the quarterfinals of the North and South Women’s Amateur and the Round of 64 in the U.S. Women’s Amateur.

Jennifer Cleary hits her tee shot on the second hole during the second round of stroke play at the 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash. on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. (Darren Carroll/USGA)

Age: 15
Hometown: Estero, Florida
ANWA history: First appearance

Clemente made a name for herself last summer when she Monday qualified into three straight LPGA events. She was the runner-up at the 2022 U.S. Girls Junior and was a Drive, Chip and Putt national finalist in 2017. Clemente won the South Atlantic Women’s Amateur earlier this year and has earned three junior All-American honors.

Gianna Clemente watches her tee shot on the fifth hole during the second round of the Dana Open presented by Marathon at Highland Meadows Golf Club on September 02, 2022, in Sylvania, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Age: 17
Hometown: Spring Valley, California
ANWA history: Second appearance

The defending ANWA champion returns to defend her title. She is the first reigning champion to defend their title. She shot a final-round 69 at Augusta National last year, including birdies on Nos. 2, 9, 12 and 13. She topped Ingrid Lindblad and Latanna Stone by one shot. In January, Davis, who’s committed to Auburn, won the Girls Junior Orange Bowl in Florida and the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley earlier this month.

16-year-old Anna Davis from Spring Valley, California, holds her trophy after winning the Augusta National Women’s Amateur golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)

Age: 21
Hometown: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Education: Florida, junior
ANWA history: First appearance

Filler has finished in the top 30 in five of her eight starts this season, including a runner-up in the “Mo”Morial Invitational and the Gators Invitational. She finished runner-up in the 2022 Florida Women’s Amateur and made the cut in the ShopRite LPGA Classic last summer.

Maisie Filler plays her shot from the 14th tee during the final round of the ShopRite Classic at Seaview Bay Course on June 12, 2022, in Galloway, New Jersey. (Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)

Age: 20
Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky
Education: Kentucky, junior
ANWA history: First appearance

Frye has finished inside the top 20 in six of her eight starts, including a third-place finish at the Tar Heel Invitational. She finished runner-up at the Sea Island Women’s Amateur for the second straight eyar and reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball. She also competed in the U.S. Women’s Open.

The Kentucky women’s golf team competes in the third round of the NCAA Championship finals at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Tim Cowie)

Age: 19
Hometown: Holmdel, New Jersey
Education: Stanford, freshman
ANWA history: Third appearance

Ganne, who was a four-time Drive, Chip and Putt national finalist, has four top-10 finishes in six starts for Stanford, including a runner-up finish at the Carmel Cup and a T-5 at the Therese Hession Regional Challenge. She finished as low am in the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open and was a three-time junior All-American.

Megha Ganne putts on the first hole during the second round of stroke play at the 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash. on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. (Darren Carroll/USGA)

Age: 24
Hometown: Sebring, Florida
Education: Louisville, graduated in 2022
ANWA history: First appearance

The assistant coach at Indiana will tee it up in her first ANWA. She played at LSU and then a fifth year at Louisville, where she earned All-ACC Honors and had four top-four finishes. She was hired to coach the Hoosiers in June 2022.

LSU Tigers golfer Kendall Griffin hits on the 18th fairway during the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club. (Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports)

Age: 21
Hometown: San Jose, California
Education: TCU, graduate
ANWA history: Second appearance

Iqbal earned All-Big 12 conference honors with seven top-15 finishes last year, including her second collegiate win at the Bruzzy and a T-3 at the NCAA Albuquerque Regional. She finished runner-up in the Texas Women’s Open and competed in the U.S. Women’s Amateur.

Sabrina Iqbal, TCU (TCU Athletics)

Age: 23
Hometown: St. Gabriel, Louisiana
Education: Ole Miss, graduate
ANWA history: Third appearance

Johnson graduated from Ole Miss last year, but the two-time All-American had a great final season. She won the 2021 Annika Intercollegiate and finished fourth at the 2021 Stephens Cup. She has also worked as an on-course commentator for Golf Channel in recent months.

Ole Miss golfer Julia Johnson tees off on the third hole during the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship Final at Grayhawk Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Age: 21
Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina
Education: Wake Forest, senior
ANWA history: Third appearance

Kuehn finished seven in the 2022 ANWA, making birdie on four of her first seven holes. She has eight top-12 finishes in nine starts for Wake Forest, including victories at the Stephens Cup and the Valspar Augusta Invitational. She is a three-time All-American and has represented the United States in the Curtis Cup and Arnold Palmer Cup.

Wake Forest’s Rachel Kuehn. (Photo: Wake Forest Athletics)

Age: 22
Hometown: Seaside, California
Education: San Jose State, fifth-year senior
ANWA history: Second appearance

She won the 2022 Patriot All-America on New Year’s Eve with an eagle on the fourth playoff hole. She has top-25 finishes in six of her seven starts for the Spartans, including a runner-up in the Stanford Intercollegiate and a T-7 at the Illini Women’s Invitational. She finished T-25 last year at Augusta National.

Antonia Malate of San Jose State celebrates after winning the 2022 Patriot All-America in Litchfield Park, Arizona. (Photo: Arizona Golf Association)

Age: 21
Hometown: Surprise, Arizona
Education: Arizona State, junior
ANWA history: Second appearance

Menne made the cut at the ANWA last year, finishing 29th. She participated in the inaugural Drive, Chip and Putt national finals in 2014, placing T-3 in the Girls 12-13 division. She has finished in the top 25 in seven of her eight stroke-play events for the Sun Devils, including a win at the 2023 Match in the Desert.

Arizona State women’s golfer Ashley Menne tees off on the 15th hole during the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club. (Photo: Alex Gould/The Republic)

Age: 23
Hometown: Cary, North Carolina
Education: Wake Forest, fifth-year senior
ANWA history: Fourth appearance

Migliaccio captured the 2-22 North & South Women’s Amateur. In 2021 at the ANWA, she shot 70 in the final round and lost in a playoff against Tsubasa Kajitani. She returned to Wake Forest this season after a year off, in which she spent time as an on-course commentator for Golf Channel, and she has finished in the top 25 in every start.

Wake Forest’s Emilia Migliaccio stands on a tee box during the first round of the 2022 ANNIKA Intercollegiate in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. (Photo: Taylor Britton/ANNIKA Foundation)

Age: 21
Hometown: Spartanburg, South Carolina
Education: Furman, senior
ANWA history: Second appearance

She finished T-21 last year at the ANWA. Morgan has seven top-25 finishes in 10 starts this season, including a win at the UNF Collegiate and a second at the Lady Paladin Invitational. Last summer, she made the semifinals of the North & South Amateur and competed in the U.S. Women’s Open.

Anna Morgan of the United States plays her shot from the third tee during the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club on April 02, 2022, in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

Age: 22
Hometown: Carrolton, Texas
Education: Texas A&M, senior
ANWA history: First appearance

She started 2023 finishing runner-up to Maria Jose Marin in the Mexican Women’s Amateur. Park has six top-15 finishes in seven starts for the Aggies this season. She finished third at the Carmel Cup at Pebble Beach and T-5 at the “Mo”Morial Invitational.

Texas A&M women’s golfer Jennie Park. (Photo: Texas A&M Athletics)

Age: 20
Hometown: Pinehurst, North Carolina
Education: Virginia, sophomore
ANWA history: Third appearance

Sambach won the Annika Intercollegiate for her first college victory in September. She has finished in the top 20 in five of her seven starts. Last summer, she reached the semifinals of the North & South Amateur and the Round of 32 in the U.S. Women’s Amateur.

Virginia’s Amanda Sambach with Annika Sorenstam after winning the 2022 ANNIKA Intercollegiate at the Royal Golf Club in Elmo, Minnesota. (Photo: Taylor Britton/ANNIKA Foundation)

Age: 21
Hometown: Monticello, Florida
Education: Auburn, senior
ANWA history: Third appearance

Schofill has top-20 finishes in seven of her eight starts this year, including her third collegiate victory at the Mason Rudolph Championship. In January, she finished runner-up at the Women’s Orlando International Amateur in Florida. She made the finals of the North & South Amateur in 2022.

Megan Schofill, Auburn

Age: 18
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Education: Alabama, freshman
ANWA history: First appearance

The 2022 Girls Junior PGA champion and AJGA Rolex Girls Junior Player of the Year is making her debut in the ANWA. She finished runner-up at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball with Bailey Shoemaker earlier in the year. She was also a member of the U.S. Junior Solheim Cup team in 2021 and won the 2022 AJGA Rolex Girls Junior Championship.

Kaitlyn Schroeder was named the 2022 AJGA Player of the Year. (Photo: AJGA)

Age: 22
Hometown: San Diego, California
Education: Stanford, senior
ANWA history: Second appearance

Seay has missed some time this spring with an injury, but in four starts last fall, she finished inside the top 25 every time. Her best finish was a 10th at the Pac-12 Preview. Last year, she was a second-team All-American with five top-10 finishes. She was also a four-time junior All-America selection.

Stanford’s Brooke Seay celebrates on the 18th green 2022 NCAA Championship. (Photo: Darren Reese/Stanford)

Age: 22
Hometown: Greenwood, Indiana
Education: Duke, senior
ANWA history: Fourth appearance

Shepherd has advanced to the final round at Augusta National twice, her best finish being T-16 in 2021. She has finished in the top 25 in five of her eight starts this season for the Blue Devils, including a solo seventh at the Stephens Cup. Last summer, she represented the U.S. for the second straight year in the Arnold Palmer Cup.

Erica Shepherd walks to the second green during the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club. (Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)

Age: 18
Hometown: Dade City, Florida
ANWA history: Second appearance

Shoemaker is committed to Southern California. In 2018, she was a Drive, Chip and Putt National Finalist. This year, she finished 14th at the Women’s Orlando International Amateur. In 2022, Shoemaker captured the Florida Women’s Amateur and defended her title at the Kathy Whitworth Invitational and finished runner-up in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball.

Bailey Shoemaker plays her tee shot on the second hole during the second round of the 77th U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club on June 03, 2022 in Southern Pines, North Carolina. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Age: 21
Hometown: Riverview, Florida
Education: LSU, senior
ANWA history: Second appearance

Stone finished runner-up last year. She shared the lead entering the final round at Augusta National and finished one behind Anna Davis. She has finished in the top 25 six times in eight starts this season for the Tigers, including a win at the Nexus Collegiate Invitational and runner-up at the Green Wave Fall Classic.

Latanna Stone lines up her birdie putt on the 11th hole during the second round of stroke play at the 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash. on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. (Darren Carroll/USGA)

Age: 22
Hometown: Diamond Bar, California
Education: Illinois, fifth-year senior
ANWA history: Second appearance

Wang has finished in the top 20 in eight of her nine starts for Illinois this season, including four top-five finishes, which include a runner-up at the Illini Women’s Invitational, and a T-3 at the Briar’s Creek Invitational. Last summer, she finished third in the Michigan Women’s Open and played in the U.S. Women’s Amateur.

Illinois’ Crystal Wang. (Photo: Craig Pessman/Illinois Athletics)

Age: 16
Hometown: Henderson, Nevada
ANWA history: Second appearance

Wilson broke out last summer when she won the 2022 U.S. Girls’ Junior at The Club at Olde Stone in Kentucky. She defeated Gianna Clemente, 3 and 2, in the 36-hole final. She has a 14-stroke win and a sixth-place finish in two International Junior Golf Tour events in Florida this year.

Yana Wilson of Henderson, Nevada, captured the 73rd U.S. Girls’ Junior on Saturday in Kentucky. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/USGA)

Age: 19
Hometown: Irvine, California
Education: Stanford, sophomore
ANWA history: Fourth appearance

Zhang, the top-ranked amateur in the world, has made the cut in each of the first three versions of the ANWA, her best finish being a T-3 in 2021. She has won five of her six starts collegiately this season. Last summer, she made the cut in the U.S. Women’s Open, Amundi Evian Championship and the AIG Women’s Open.

Rose Zhang plays her tee shot on the 15th hole during the second round of the 77th U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club on June 03, 2022, in Southern Pines, North Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)