COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Normally, April in Augusta means one thing: The Masters. That tradition, unlike any other, continues, but lately, the course has been home to a premier event on the women's side.
This week, three Aggie golfers will trade in Texas wind for some slopes in Georgia at the Augusta National Women's Amateur (ANWA).
"If we keep flying a flag there, that's a pretty cool deal," said Texas A&M women's golf head coach Gerrod Chadwell.
Texas A&M is becoming somewhat of a regular at the Masters. Last year, Madisonville native Sam Bennett earned an opportunity to compete for a green jacket by virtue of winning the US Amateur Championship in 2022.
The former A&M All-American was in third place the first two rounds before taking home the Silver Cup as the tournament's low Amateur.
For the second year in a row, the Aggies will also be represented at ANWA. The tournament began in 2019 and has quickly become one of the premier events in the women's game.
"It's crazy where these young ladies have taken us. This wasn't even on the radar three years ago," said Chadwell, referring to his first season in College Station. "The championships, the runs that we've had in postseason - it was a thought. It was something we talked about, but they're the ones that did all the work."
In Augusta, Chadwell will serve as a caddie for his graduate senior Jennie Park, who has provided a steady presence on the roster for the past three years.
Park also earned a spot at ANWA last spring, where she finished in a tie for 9th place (+1).
"It's really going to be helpful to my confidence," said Park. "Just sticking to what I know about the course and how it fits my game."
Freshman Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio, who goes by Cata, had a 4th place finish (-3) in last year's tournament. Currently, she's ranked as the 6th-best amateur in the world.
Cata was signed to play for A&M during last year's tournament but is excited now to go as an official member of the team. She'll have support from her home in Madrid and her new one in College Station.
"My family's going, my coach from Spain is going," said Cata. "It just feels great. I feel like I'm better prepared than last year."
Recent Texas A&M graduate Hailee Cooper has patiently waited for her opportunity. Cooper qualified twice previously, but couldn't participate because of COVID-19. She tested positive for the virus just before the 2021 tournament, and the 2020 competition was canceled altogether due to the pandemic.
This time - knowing it would be her last opportunity to play - the wait was nerve-wracking.
"I saw my email like, 'Something was delivered to you from Augusta National.' I was like, 'Oh my gosh, could it be it? Could it be a 'you're on the waitlist' kind of thing?'" Cooper recalled.
But there was no waitlist to worry about. It was the news that Cooper - and her family - had been waiting on for years.
"I'm excited to be able to take them," Cooper said. "It definitely takes something off the bucket list and just being able to play there, even just walking on the grounds is awesome, but actually being able to play there - I'm so excited. I get chills."
Regardless of how the leaderboard shakes out, Chadwell believes this event will always be a highlight in the careers of each player.
"I've been fortunate enough with my wife's career (LPGA professional Stacy Lewis) to see a lot of really, really cool women's sporting events," Chadwell said. "I don't know if you can really beat this one. They're treated like no other. It's better than any other professional sporting event I've been to."
The first two rounds will be played Wednesday, April 3, and Thursday, April 4 at the nearby Champions Retreat, just north of Augusta. The ladies will finally get to play 18 holes at Augusta National during the final round on Saturday, April 6. NBC will provide televised coverage of that final round from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
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