AUGUSTA, Ga. — With a bunched leaderboard at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur heading into Saturday’s final round, the storylines are as numerous as we’ve seen in the six-year history of this championship. From a defending champion and World No. 1 to a 16-year-old “veteran,” here’s the case for (and against) each player inside the top 10 winning one of the biggest titles in the women’s game at Augusta National.
MORE: Defending champion in familiar territory as ANWA moves to Augusta National
T-1 Lottie Woad (-9) 
Chris Turvey
Why she’ll win: Easy. Woad is the No. 1-ranked amateur in the world, and it’s not particularly close. She hasn’t finished outside the top-three in a collegiate event at Florida State all season. Oh, and she’s the defending champion at the ANWA, where last year she held converted a two-shot 36-hole lead to victory. She showed impressive fortitude a year ago in losing the lead at one point in the final round only to make three birdies in her final four holes to win.
Cause for concern: No player has yet to successfully defend the ANWA title. And the pressure to become the first might play tricks on Woad come Saturday.
T-1 Kiara Romero (-9) 
Thomas Lovelock
Why she’ll win: Arguably no one is more motivated to get over the finish line at Augusta National, given the fact that the University of Oregon All-American has five runner-up finishes this season in college. She’s convinced she is a more complete player than she’s ever been. “I feel like I have a lot more control over the mental side of it,” Romero said on Thursday. “I feel like this week I’ve been the happiest I’ve ever been on the course.”
Cause for concern: The reason for Romero’s strong motivation this week—those five runner-up finishes—might also be the best case against her chances on Saturday. Romero has struggled to close out golf tournaments of late, with her last win coming in February 2024.
T-3 Carla Bernat Escuder (-8) 
Logan Whitton
Why she’ll win: Sergio Garcia’s father, Victor, is her longtime swing coach, so she’ll have no shortage of Augusta knowledge to glean from the camp of the 2017 Masters champion. What’s more, she grew up with 2024 U.S. Am champ Josele Ballester, who recently gave her a chipping lesson. It’s paid off over the first two rounds this week—she’s only made one bogey.
MORE: Spanish star in ANWA hunt, thanks to short game help from heralded countrymen
Cause for concern: Of the top five on the leaderboard, Escuder is the lowest-ranked player, at No. 29 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. While still an extremely accomplished player, those around her are that and then some.
T-3 Andrea Revuelta (-8) 
Logan Whitton
Why she’ll win: Revuelta’s Stanford women’s team is putting together one of the greatest seasons in college golf history, the Cardinal having yet to lose a tournament. Players have said that often they need to shoot four or five under just to qualify for tournaments, so Revuelta is used to the pressure of having to go low.
Cause for concern: Hailing from Madrid, Revuelta will have to break a Spanish curse in the ANWA: in the previous five years of the championship, only one player has finished inside the top 10.
T-3 Megha Ganne (-8) 
David Paul Morris
Why she’ll win: No one has shot a lower round this week than Ganne’s nine-under 63 on Wednesday at Champions Retreat. After surviving the challenge of following up a low round with another good one, Ganne is freed up to continue playing the golf she showed in the first round. Menawhile, no one on the leaderboard is more familiar with Augusta National—this is Ganne’s ninth year coming to Augusta (four Drive, Chip and Putts and five ANWAs).
Cause for concern: In the second round on Thursday, Ganne’s one-over 73 was the highest round of anyone inside the top 10. She’ll need to turn it around and likely shoot a few under par to win come Saturday.
T-6 Asterisk Talley (-7) 
David Paul Morris
MORE: A 16-year-old ‘veteran’ with a name you can’t forget lurks at Augusta National
Why she’ll win: Talley’s six-under 66 on Thursday was the low round of the day, vaulting the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball champion into contention. Talley is no stranger to important championships, having won a USGA title and finishing runner-up in both the U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior in 2024. What’s more, last year in the final round, she posted two-under 70 to finish T-8.
Cause for concern: Though a two-shot deficit is hardly significant, spotting the world’s best amateur, Woad, two to start the final round will likely require another stellar performance from Talley, who is only 16 years old.
T-6 Meja Örtengren (-7) 
Logan Whitton
Why she’ll win: For all the above points on why Stanford’s Revuelta is used to having one-round shootouts, the same can be said for fellow Cardinal freshman Örtengren. With a win and every finish inside the top 10, Örtengren is putting together one of the best freshman seasons in the country.
Cause for concern: Though Örtengren is making her fourth appearance at the ANWA, so missed the cut in her two prior starts, meaning she hasn’t competed in at Augusta National since her debut in 2022, when she shot 72. Others ahead of her have more recent experience at the course.
8 Emma Kaisa Bunch (-5) 
David Paul Morris
Why she’ll win: The New Mexico State junior shot 67, the second-lowest score of anyone in the second round. If she can put together another round in the mid-60s, she’ll have a chance to catch the leaders. She’s also plenty used to winning of late: she has been victorious in six collegiate events in the 2024 calendar year.
Cause for concern: Last year, Bailey Shoemaker shot a final-round 66 to catch and pass the 36-hole leader, Woad, only for Woad to make two consecutive birdies to win. Should Bunch catch the lead on Saturday, Woad will be ready.
T-9 Jasmine Koo (-4) 
David Paul Morris
Why she’ll win: Of all the players at four under, five shots back, Koo likely has the best chance to win. The USC freshman finished fourth in her ANWA debut last year and already has four collegiate victories this season.
Cause for concern: Through two rounds, Koo has made six bogeys and a double—more than any other player near the top of the board. To catch the lead, she can’t afford to make the mistakes that have so far kept her from being at the top.
T-9 Mackenzie Lee (-4) 
David Paul Morris
Why she’ll win: When she holed her tee shot on the par-3 sixth in the first round, SMU’s Lee had made two aces in the last week, the other coming at the Clemson Invitational. No matter the skill, that takes a bit of luck. Maybe it’ll be on her side on Saturday.
Cause for concern: At No. 42 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Lee is one of the lower-ranked players on the leaderboard, chasing a host of names who rarely back up.
T-9 Kary Hollenbaugh (-4) 
David Paul Morris
Why she’ll win: The Ohio State junior has won four out of her last five tournaments, including last week at the Clemson Invitational. Besides Woad, no one on the board is hotter coming into this week.
Cause for concern: Hollenbaugh is making her championship debut, meaning Saturday’s round will be her first competitive one at Augusta National. Compared to her more experienced challengers, Hollenbaugh will have less local knowledge on a course where plenty is required.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
