Princess of Augusta: Davis claims ANWA
- Updated: April 5, 2022
2022 LOCAL COVERAGE
From staff and wire reports
AUGUSTA, Ga. – The begging question on whether Tiger Woods will compete in next weekend’s Master has been side-tracked for even bigger news.
The next phenom to hit one of the major professional gold tours may have arrived.
Anna Davis, a 16-year old sophomore out of Steele Canyon High, just captured one of the country’s top events for amateurs, claiming the third edition of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Staged at one of the world’s most prestigious golf courses, Davis shot a final round score of three-under 69 over Augusta National Golf Club on Saturday morning A(pr. 2), switching over to cruise control for the final 14 holes, then watched the following groups of leaders fail to handle the pressure on the final holes.
Cruise control? Davis can’t even drive yet, saddled with only a learner’s permit. Next year, maybe, she’ll be able to drive down the fables Magnolia Lane, which was first driven by some of the greats from the early 20th Century, like Byron Nelson and Bobby Jones.
The debut of the original “Augusta National Invitation Tournament” was in 1934, then changed to its present name in 1939.
Davis topped a field of 30 finalists to add to her list of impressive golf accomplishments.
“I’m still a little shocked,” Davis told The Golf Channel.
Following her final round, Davis stood as the clubhouse leader at 1 under, then was glued to nearby television monitors as Latanna Stone, the leader entering the round, fell late to card a one-over 72.
Because of her double bogey-bogey finish, Stone finished in a tie for the runner-up spot with her LSU college teammate Ingrid Lindblad (68), one shot behind Davis.
“I don’t think it’s processed yet that I’ve won here,” added Davis. “It’s pretty surreal, to be honest. I literally – I’m speechless. I can’t even fathom what just happened. It all happened very quickly.”
Moments later, Davis was shuttled over to Augusta National’s lavish press center, and her eyes widened when she walked into the interview room, which was filled with a few dozen reporters, as well as her family and friends.
As for her future in golf, could entry to the LPGA Tour replace a sure-fire collegiate golf scholarship?
Her current resume shows Davis as a seven-shot champion at last year’s Girls Junior PGA and is a reigning first-team AJGA All-America selection.
– Compiled by Nick Pellegrino
