EVANS, Ga. (WJBF) – Rose Zhang, the No. 1 ranked amateur in women’s golf, continues to lead the 2023 Augusta National Women’s Amateur after two rounds at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Evans. On a perfect day for golf, the Stanford University sophomore broke the tournament’s single round scoring record for the second straight day, carding a 65 leaving her at -13 for the tournament. She will take a five-shot lead into Saturday’s final round at Augusta National Golf Club.
“I’m super blessed. I feel like to even be in this field is an opportunity for me to grow as a player and a person,” Zhang said. “Just watching all my friends compete and watching such great golfers on a daily basis. I just feel very grateful to have this kind of platform, and playing well these first two rounds is certainly something that I’m super proud of. It’s not just me that kind of did this. I feel like everyone who supports me out there, I really felt the support. I really felt the love.”
Andrea Lignell (-8) of Sweden, a senior at Ole Miss who led the Rebels to the 2021 national championship, is in solo second after carding a 69 on Friday.
“(Saturday at Augusta National) is going to be crazy,” Lignell said. “I’m so excited to go there. I’m going to be nervous for sure, but I’m really excited.”
University of Georgia senior Jenny Bae (-7) enters Saturday in third place, six shots behind Zhang after a 68 on Friday. She gives a lot of credit to her caddie Josh Brewer, the women’s golf coach at UGA.
“I would prefer Josh having my bag at any time compared to having like a local caddie here just because he knows me and my game and he knows what to do, what not to do,” Bae said. “Because I’m so familiar with him, and we travel — obviously, he’s our head coach — I just feel really comfortable. Being able to share those decisions is a key influence.”
“We’ve just become really close over the last two or three years,” Brewer said. “I tell her when she has to work out and go to school, which is a unique relationship. We have fun on the golf course. It’s an opportunity to not be player-coach, where she’s the boss and I am not. It’s a dream come true for both of us and I’m honored she’s giving me this chance and it’s going to be an exciting walk on Saturday.”
Defending champion Anna Davis (+4) and 2022 co-runner up Ingrid Lindblad (+8), the No. 2 ranked amateur in women’s golf, both missed the cut. Davis was assessed two two-stroke penalties on her first hole of the tournament.
The entire field will play a practice round at Augusta National Golf Club on Friday before the final round there on Saturday.
For the complete leader board, click here.
