Lottie Woad of England delivered a Masters-like charge Saturday with three birdies over her last four holes, the last one a 15-foot putt on the 18th hole for a 3-under 69 and a 1-shot victory in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
“I’ve watched this ever since I was younger, and to win it is really special,” said Woad, a 20-year-old sophomore at Florida State.
The fifth edition of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur — the final round coming Saturday at Augusta National before the Masters — was a two-player race that ended with a birdie-birdie finish.
Woad, who started the final round at Augusta National with a 2-shot lead, fell behind when Bailey Shoemaker finished off a remarkable bogey-free round of 66.
And then it got worse for Woad. She played defensively on the par-5 13th, pulling her approach to the top shelf with the pin down below, just as it is for Sunday at the Masters. The three-putt bogey put her 2 behind and running out of holes.
And then she delivered moments so typical on the back nine at Augusta National.
It started with a 10-foot par save on the 14th when she got up and down from behind the green. She holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-5 15th, then narrowly made one from about the same length at the next hole.
Woad birdied the 17th with a shot about 10 feet away to the back left pin, then gave herself a chance with an approach to 15 feet behind the hole. The winning putt was good all the way, and Woad lightly pumped her fist.
“You’re now a part of Augusta National history,” Masters chairman Fred Ridley said in Butler Cabin, where Woad received a trophy, but no green jacket.
Shoemaker, a freshman at USC, did all she could. She played brilliantly to the dangerous left pin on the par-4 11th and made her final birdie on the par-3 16th with a tee shot that narrowly cleared the bunker and settled 3 feet away.
“Lottie had a heck of a finish, birdies on the last two holes,” Shoemaker said. “A little disappointed, but I did everything I could.”
Shoemaker had more history at Augusta National, having played practice rounds the past two years and competed in the Drive, Chip and Putt Finals in 2018 in the Girls 12-13 division.
“I came runner-up in that, too,” Shoemaker said with a smile. “It’s an amazing place, awesome that women’s golf is taking a turn for the better.”
Ingrid Lindblad of Sweden, the No. 1 player in the women’s amateur ranking and a fifth-year senior at LSU, had to settle for her third top-3 finish.
She started 4 shots behind but never got closer than 2 shots, closing with a 69 to finish alone in third. Lindblad was runner-up at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in 2022 and tied for third in 2021.
“I feel every time I come in here, I just have a smile on my face. It doesn’t matter how it goes,” Lindblad said. “You’re happy to be here. It’s such an amazing experience and a test for your golf game for sure.”
