The first two competitive rounds were played at Champions Retreat Golf Club with the top 30 players and ties earning their invitation to a final round at the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club. Although some of the field weren’t able to compete in the final round due to the cut, all competitors got a chance to play a practice round on Augusta National and new this year – a round on the famed Par 3 Course.

Bailey Shoemaker, a University of Southern California freshman, showed no fear during the final round of the ANWA by shooting a bogey free six-under 66 which also became the lowest final round in the history of the event. The six birdies propelled Bailey up the leaderboard quickly – where she sat on top and had to agonizingly wait for the lead groups to finish.

With four holes remaining, Lottie Woad, a sophomore for the Florida State Seminoles and the leader after two rounds, found herself three shots back. After birdieing the 15^th hole, Woad put her head down and finished the last three holes in two-under par to claim the Augusta National Women’s Amateur title by one shot over Bailey Shoemaker. Woad drained a downhill 15-foot putt for victory on the 18^th hole – something most golfers only dream of doing at Augusta National Golf Club!

Most of the ANWA competitors were either verbally committed to college, current college players, or had recently graduated. As a matter of fact, 59 of the 72-player field compete on the college level – proof that going through the recruiting process and finding the right fit both academically and athletically is crucial! Let us help you reach your dreams of playing college golf and maybe one day being able to play at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

The ANWA seems to produce some of the most unbelievable golf every year – and we want to take this time to thank the 72 competitors for being great role models to the up-and-coming junior golfers – displaying high class golf shots under extreme pressure. The camaraderie shown by all competitors is a great testament for the game of golf and one we look forward to watching every single year.

For more posts like this one, check out our blog here: Path Fore Success Blog. You can also follow us on Instagram & Twitter for more!

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Check out these important terms that will help you get that edge you need while navigating the college recruiting process…

Contact: A contact happens any time a college coach says more than hello during a face-to-face meeting with you or your parents off the college’s campus.

Dead Period: A college coach may not have any face-to-face contact with you or your parents on or off the college campus at any time during a dead period. The coach may write and call you or your parents during this time.

Evaluation: An evaluation happens when a college coach observes you practicing or competing.

Official visit: During an official visit, the college can pay for transportation to and from the college for you, lodging and meals (Division I allows for up to three meals per day) for you and your parents or guardians, as well as reasonable entertainment expenses including three tickets to a Division I home sports event or five tickets to a Division II home sports event.

Before a college invites you on an official visit, you must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and although not required, they may ask for a copy of your high school transcript and SAT, ACT, PSAT or PreACT score. Official Visits to Division I campuses can occur as early as August 1 before a prospect’s junior year of high school.

Recruited: If a college coach calls you more than once, contacts you off campus, pays your expenses to visit the campus, or in Divisions I and II, issues you a National Letter of Intent or a written offer of financial aid, you are considered to be recruited.

Unofficial visit: Any visit by you and your parents to a college campus paid for by you or your parents. The only expense you may receive from the college is three complimentary admissions to a Division I home athletics contest or five complimentary admissions to a Division II home athletics contest. You may make as many unofficial visits as you like and may take those visits at any time. Beginning August 1 before your junior year of high school, you can talk/meet with a coach and athletic staff member during an unofficial visit anytime other than during a Dead Period.

Verbal commitment: A verbal commitment is a verbal agreement between a prospective student-athlete and a coach to play sports for a college prior to the PSA signing or being eligible to sign a National Letter of Intent. The commitment is not binding on you or the school. June 15 following a prospect’s sophomore year is the first opportunity for any recruiting interaction.

Walk-on: Someone who is not typically recruited by a school to participate in sports and does not receive a scholarship from the school, but who becomes a member of one of the school’s athletics teams.

National Letter of Intent: This is a one year contract that binds the student-athlete to that specific college. Once that document is signed, it ends the recruiting process for that student-athlete.

Thank you for reading about out some Important Terms for the College Recruiting Process. If you need more help with the college recruiting process, please check out our services. For more posts like this one, check out our blog here: Path Fore Success Blog. You can also follow us on Instagram & Twitter for more!

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What did it mean to be a part of the 2nd ANWA?

“A dream, it was crazy! Nothing that I ever imagined. I imagined the tournament being big, but what you feel once you’re inside the ropes, it’s completely different, like another world. I dreamt about that tournament for months and I still got chills and emotions being on the grounds.”

How hard was the competition out there?

“Really hard. Everyone there knows how to practice and knows how to win. All the players have a lot of experience, and players that know how to compete with pressure”

What advice do you have for a player trying to play at that level?

“I learned so much from being there. If you get to see these players in person, it gives you extra motivation to get to the next level. You have to fight for every single shot. Nothing is given to you. You have to be careful comparing your own game to the other competitors, everyone plays golf differently – there’s no right way or wrong way.”

How was it walking the hallowed ground of Augusta National?

“The grass was perfectly cut. The flowers were all blooming. It’s nothing like you see on television, the golf course is different. The property is almost unrecognizable with the undulations of the greens and fairways. It was a dream come true to be inside the ropes. It was also very cool to see some of the professional golfers come out and support the women. The men showed up early to practice for the Masters and took time out of their practice sessions to watch!”

What was your experience like caddying for one of the top amateurs in the world?

“An experience that you could never pay for! You see everything up close and personal, you see golf from another perspective. It’s really hard to describe. One thing that was amazing was seeing the preparation for each shot. The top amateurs in the world play a golf that is simple but it’s not that far off from the rest of the amateurs in the world. They know how to fight for each shot and not give away any free shots. They give 100%.”

Thank you for taking the time to read our interview with a caddie at the ANWA. For more posts like this one, check out our blog here: Path Fore Success Blog. You can also follow us on Instagram & Twitter for more!

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