Andrea Revuelta submitted her entry this Wednesday in due time and form to be the one to receive the big final hug at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. There is still a long way to go and we will see what happens over the next 36 holes, but to contend for the title you first have to position yourself and the Madrilenian did that perfectly in the first round with a magnificent round of golf
We do not mention the hug lightly; after all, it was precisely Andrea who was the first to embrace Carla Bernat last year on the 18th at Augusta as the ANWA champion. The reason is that she was her playing partner. She experienced it first-hand, enjoyed it as a direct witness, but was also left with a taste of what might have been and a desire to show the world she could have won too
Revuelta has once again confirmed the great form she is in. Not even a bogey at the 1st hole made her doubt for a moment. On the contrary. It was what is known as a wake-up bogey. At that moment the birdie alarm went off and from there they cascaded. One, two, three… and up to seven birdies to start with a superb 66 to place her magnificently in second position in the tournament. In contention
Revuelta, in her third appearance at the ANWA, is one stroke behind the sole leader, the Colombian María José Marín (-7). Be very careful with her. She is by no means a casual leader. She is the World No. 7 and started as one of the favourites. Not for nothing is she the reigning individual NCAA champion and has nine top‑10s so far this season. She has also won the South American Amateur Open twice in a row and is the current Women’s Amateur Latin America champion. An impressive record. On top of that, she has experience, as this is her fourth appearance in the tournament
Marína posted a bogey-free 65 and leads Revuelta by one, along with the Canadian Vanessa Borovilos (-6), who is playing her first ANWA, the Californian Asterisk Talley (-6), who went toe-to-toe with the best last week at the Ford Championship, an LPGA Tour event, and the Korean Soomin Oh (-6), runner-up this year on the Ladies European Tour
A total of 30 players recorded under-par scores today, so the cut would currently be at -1. At that figure is precisely Paula Martín (-1), after finishing her round with a great birdie on the 9th hole. She is in contention. The ones, however, who will really have to grit their teeth this Thursday are Cata Fernández (+3) and Rocío Tejedo (+4). The two who complete the quartet of Spanish players in the ANWA need a big reaction and a very good round of golf. Both have more than enough ability to do it. In fact, both have made plenty of birdies; the problem has been the mistakes
The most striking result of the day was the 84 by the Japanese Tsubasa Kajitani, ANWA champion in 2021
As you know, the first two rounds take place Wednesday and Thursday at Champions Retreat. The top 30 make the cut; on Friday everyone, whether they made the cut or not, will play a practice round at Augusta National and on Saturday the third and final round of the tournament will be held, this time only with the top 30 after the second day
