What a Saturday we have in store. Two Spanish players will fight for glory at Augusta National and to become the first player from the Armada to win the ANWA. Carla Bernat (-8) and Andrea Revuelta (-8) are tied in third position and just one stroke behind the leaders Lottie Woad (-9) and Kiara Romero (-9). The two Spanish players will tee off together in the penultimate match of the day. Additionally, four out of the six Spanish players have made the cut, equalling the national record from twelve months ago.
This Friday there will be no competition; it will be the practice round before the grand final battle in which Carla and Andrea will fight to join the likes of Seve, Olazábal, Rahm, or Sergio García. Winning at Augusta opens the doors to eternity in golf, and in 36 hours, we will have the definitive outcome.
The player from Castellón has once again shown how consistent she is. Carla took 33 holes to commit a bogey at Champions Retreat Golf Club. No other golfer has lasted as long as she has without making any mistakes, and she matched the 68 from the first day for a total of eight under par.
Same result, but very different feelings. “Today I had to fight much more, I had many situations to save par with two putts more than for birdie. I had to hold on more and take advantage of my opportunities, and I think I did well,” summarised the Kansas State University player.
Her smile on the 18th green after sinking the birdie putt from just over two metres said it all. She was fully in the fight and very aware of the internal battle she had just fought.
Meanwhile, Andrea Revuelta (-8) was one of the day’s main protagonists, delivering the second-best card of the day alongside Asterisk Talley (-7). A round of 66 strokes to tie with Carla Bernat and get very close to the top of the tournament. A loud “Vamos” was heard from the crowd as soon as she holed the putt that put her eight under par on the 18th hole. Like Carla, Andrea smiled and hugged her caddie, aware of the great round they had just given themselves.
Of course, Andrea surpasses Carla’s 68 from yesterday and becomes the best round ever by one of ours in the tournament. The final birdie was especially commendable after the bogey she made on the penultimate hole with a putt of barely a metre that slipped left. Seven birdies and just one slip.
“I played very well both days, but I think today I needed a bit more patience, and I got the result I needed to get into the fight,” Andrea acknowledged just after finishing the round.
Andrea already knows what’s ahead: “Now a new tournament begins. We have to be very careful with this transition because it’s a completely different course and there’s a day in between. But tomorrow, during the practice round, it’s time to enjoy.”
To win the ANWA, they will have to overcome a formidable Lottie Woad, who wants to be the first woman to defend the crown. The World Number One is putting like a dream, and without a doubt, last year’s experience makes her the main favourite for the title. She will tee off tied with Kiara Romero, who has had a great year with five second places but is struggling to finish and claim victory. We’ll see if Augusta is where she pops the champagne of victory for the first time.
Megha Ganne (-8), the main protagonist at the start of the tournament after smashing the tournament record, played a round of 73 strokes this Friday. She remains just one stroke off the lead.
The one who has lost some ground in the fight for the final victory is Paula Martín (-3). She is in a great top 15, but six strokes off the lead. At times, it seemed she could join Carla and Andrea’s group as she was five under par in total after the first nine holes, but she couldn’t add any more successes and dropped two bogeys in the final stretch. Still, no one should rule out a great final round that could give her a fantastic result in the tournament.
Carolina López Chacarra (-2) is probably one of the happiest players at this ANWA. Fifth time’s the charm; after four consecutive years without making the cut in the tournament, the Madrid native has finally done it. She rewards herself in her last opportunity by making the cut and playing for the first time on Saturday in the tournament. Until the end and on the legendary Georgian course. What more could you ask for? The Madrid native is in the top 20 of the tournament thanks to a second round at par. She played very solidly and recovered well from the initial bogey that put her on the brink of the abyss. Seven consecutive pars before snagging her first two birdies of the day. It’s true that the bogey on 14 and 17 left her one stroke away from being out, but she kept her cool and took full advantage of the 18th hole, birdie in the bag, and her first competitive round at Augusta National is now a reality. Few deserve it as much as she does.
The bitter side of the day was left by Cata Fernández (+1) and Rocio Tejedo (+2), who failed to make the cut at the ANWA.
The case of the Madrid native was especially painful, having made the cut the last two years and being within the limit with just two holes to go. However, her tee shot on the par-3 17th hole went long of the green and ended up in the rough in a very difficult position. Any impact sent the ball to the other side of the green, and that’s what happened; she couldn’t sink the six-metre putt she had left and fell to par in total. On the 18th hole, wanting to go for it all, she made another bogey for the final +1. A real shame.
Rocio, on her part, fails to make the cut for the second consecutive year. Still, both have the gift of the practice round at Augusta National, which is no small thing. Rocio has years ahead to dream of a final round at Augusta.
Another of the big names of the day is Asterisk Talley. The 16-year-old player, the best junior in the world, matched Andrea Revuelta’s round and will tee off tomorrow two strokes off the lead. A finalist in the US Open Amateur and the US Open Junior, she is one of the great promises of world golf and will try to make a big splash on Saturday.
