The dream of the Triple Crown has begun with mixed feelings. This Monday marked the start of the US Women’s Amateur with the presence of two of our great amateur women’s golf standard-bearers: Carolina López Chacarra (-2) is off to a strong start, while Cayetana Fernández García-Poggio (+6) struggled in her tournament debut.
The initial goal at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is to be among the top 64 after the first two Stroke Play rounds and thus qualify for the Match Play eliminations. The position in which you advance to the next phase matters as it reflects your feelings on the course, but what counts is advancing; the Match Play encounters are a different story.
In this regard, Carolina López Chacarra has taken a giant step in her aspirations to advance in the tournament. She carded a 70, placing her firmly in the top ten of the US Women’s Amateur, just two shots behind the trio of players leading the event.
The Madrid native has redeemed herself from the opening round of this same tournament twelve months ago when she carded a 79 at Erin Hills, preventing her from even contending for the cut. In fact, she ended a painful participation at Erin Hills with +17. This 2025 is a different story for Carol. She faces her final months as an amateur in the best form of her formative stage. Nine strokes difference from that debut.
The current world amateur number fifteen started on the 10th hole, playing a textbook first nine holes. The Oregon course is not one that can be easily tamed, and Carol finished the first half of the day with two birdies and no mistakes, despite not capitalising on the par fives.
The second half began with four consecutive pars just before the day’s only two errors arrived. Two consecutive bogeys jeopardised the Madrid native’s good work, leaving her with little room for error. Carol managed to recover brilliantly, finishing the day with two birdies on the last two holes, two under par for the day. The lead is two strokes away, and more importantly, the cut is four strokes away. She cannot be complacent, but the first step has been taken with great composure.
Cata, on the other hand, has experienced firsthand what a debut in this century-old and tough event is like. The Spaniard carded a 78, placing her at the bottom and six shots from what would currently be the cut. She has 18 holes ahead to attempt a remarkable comeback. The attempt to turn things around really began on the 15th hole when she was +8 overall with two double bogeys along the way. The Madrid native managed to hold on to the course and scored two gutsy birdies in that final stretch, giving her a chance to fight for a remarkable turnaround this Tuesday.
