News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Texas A&M’s Cayetana Fernández García-Poggio and Hailee Cooper made the cut to advance to the final round of the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur on Thursday at the Champions Retreat Golf Club.
Fernández García-Poggio shot 2-over 74 on a day where the average score was 3.5 strokes above par. The freshman tied for 13th and wowed the ANWA crowd with a 40+ foot birdie putt on No. 17. However, disaster loomed on No. 18 to wrap the round when the Spaniard sailed the green from the fairway, putting her in dangerous territory to lose control of the hole. Fernández García-Poggio would recover with a fantastic shot from behind the green to get within four feet of the cup to save par and make the cut on her birthday.
Cooper played elite golf after turning in a 4-over 76 on the first day. She jumped 23 spots on the leaderboard after being one of just five golfers in the 72-player field to shoot under par, firing a 1-under 71 into a tie for 23rd. Her 3-over 147 proved to be the cutline for the field, as her and 12 other golfers tied for the final spot.
Jennie Park missed the cut by one stroke after shooting a 4-over 76 in the second round. She finished the tournament 4-over 148 and tied for 36th.
Fernández García-Poggio and Cooper will advance to the final round, which will take place on Saturday at the historic Augusta National Golf Course. This will be Fernández García-Poggio’s second appearance in the final round and Cooper’s first. Last year, Fernández García-Poggio placed fourth at the ANWA and shot a 1-under 71 at Augusta National.
Florida State’s Lottie Woad is in the lead at 5-under 139. Texas A&M is one of three SEC schools (Auburn, South Carolina) to have two players make the cut at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
The final round will be broadcast on NBC from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Additionally, live stats for the event can be found at anwagolf.com.
About the Augusta National Women’s Amateur
The Augusta National Women’s Amateur was announced on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, by Chairman Fred Ridley during his annual press conference at the Masters Tournament. The event was established to inspire greater interest and participation in the women’s game by creating a new, exciting and rewarding pathway for these players to fulfill their dreams.
Provided she remain an amateur, the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur Champion will receive an invitation to the next five Augusta National Women’s Amateurs, the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open, the 2024 Women’s Open, the 2024 Chevron Championship, the 2024 Evian Championship and any USGA, R&A and PGA of America amateur championships for which she is eligible for one year.