AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – The stage is set. A champion will be crowned Saturday at the fifth edition of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club.
“I think everyone’s going to be nervous,” said Ingrid Lindblad (-1) of Sweden, the No. 1 ranked amateur in women’s golf. “It’s wrong if someone’s not nervous (Saturday). But I think everyone’s going to have the same thought, just try to go and shoot as low as possible.”
Lindblad, a fifth-year student at LSU, is making her fourth ANWA appearance. She finished one stroke behind the winner in 2021 and 2022 before missing the cut last year.
“I think everyone should be nervous. It doesn’t matter what position on the leaderboard you are, that first tee shot on No. 1 with all the people around it, it’s not an easy tee shot either.”
Lottie Woad (-5), a sophomore at Florida State from England, enters the final round with a two stroke lead.
“I’m going to be excited to get going, excited to play the final round leading at Augusta National,” Woad said. “It’s something not many people can say they’ve done, so I’m going to be excited.
I’m sure there will be some nerves, but I always say, when you’re nervous, it just means you care.”
Two golfers begin Saturday two strokes behind Woad. Gianna Clemente (-3) is a former Drive, Chip and Putt National Finalist at Augusta National now making her second ANWA appearance at the age of 16.
“I remember coming off of the shuttle from the range last year, not expecting the tee box to be completely lined with people,” Clemente said.
“So, that was definitely a little bit of a shocker, but I feel like it’s going to be less of a shocker this year now that I’ve seen it before and I’ve played the course with the crowds and under the competition. I’ll probably draw off that a little bit from last year.”
Joining Clemente at -3 is Maisie Filler, a senior at the University of Florida.
“I’ll be nervous for sure, but I just have to focus on the right things and not be worried about all the people around and just stay in my bubble, so that’s my goal (Saturday),” Filler said of her approach to the final round.
Two current and one future University of South Carolina Gamecock enter the final round in the group of eight at one-under. Juniors Hannah Darling and Louise Rydqvist, along with commitment Eila Galitsky, are four shots back.
“I think for me just going out there and having the process of going into some really good numbers, picking some really smart targets, being committed, having fun, not worrying about results or anything that’s outside of my bubble is really important,” Darling said after Friday’s practice round.
“I personally feel like, if I can handle that very well (Saturday), I’m going to have a great day.”
Hannah Darling of Scotland plays a stroke from a bunker on the No. 2 hole during a practice round for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club, Friday, April 5, 2024. 
Eila Galitsky of Thailand plays a stroke from a bunker on the No. 2 hole during a practice round for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club, Friday, April 5, 2024.
WJBF will provide live reports from Augusta National Golf Club during newscasts throughout the day on Saturday. NBC will televise the final round live beginning at 3 p.m.
Due to overnight temperatures in the Augusta area and the threat of frost, final round starting times were pushed back by half an hour, with the final pairing now scheduled to tee off at 10:50 a.m.
For the full leaderboard, click here. For final round tee times, click here.
