Augusta National Here She Comes: Benedetta Moresco is Tied for Sixth in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur

AUGUSTA, Ga. – University of Alabama women's golfer Benedetta Moresco will reap the chance of a lifetime this weekend, becoming one of 30 amateurs to make the cut in the Augusta National Women's Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club Friday. Tied for sixth place on a 2-over-par 146 tournament total, she will advance to the final round at the famed Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Saturday.

The sophomore was the co-leader after the first round of the prestigious tournament after recording a 2-under-par 70 at Champions Retreat Golf Club, the site of the first and second rounds. Moresco was tied with 16-year-old Anna Davis for a share of the lead, two of just five amateurs to go under par in the first round.

Moresco teed off on hole No. 1 at 9:06 a.m. CT Wednesday, birding two of her first three holes to take a share of the lead right away. She would remain in the top two throughout the day, going two under on the front nine thanks to three birdies and one bogey and even par on the back nine thanks to no blemishes.

Motivated to maintain her position on the leaderboard in the second round Thursday, the elements had other plans. While tee times were scheduled for 7:30 to 9:42 a.m. CT Thursday, inclement weather, which included thunderstorms and 17 mph winds, pushed the first tee time back to 2 p.m. CT.

At last, Moresco teed off hole No. 10 at 2:36 p.m. CT, however, influences of the delay and the elements kept her from holding on to her share of the lead for too long. Despite never escaping the top 10, the sophomore recorded three bogeys in her first five holes as the leaderboard began to shuffle. The Italian rallied her lone birdie of the day on the par-4 No. 1, then recorded two more bogeys to cap the second round at 4-over-par 76.

"I had a little rusty start on the back nine, but a few bogeys out there is fine," Moresco said. "It's a super tough course, so I'm really happy with my game and I have good feelings for tomorrow."

If this is any indication of how tough the course was, just eight players turned in a combined eight rounds under par – five in the first round and three in the second round - across 144 total rounds during the two days.

Moresco's and Davis' 2-under-par 70 in the first round remains the lowest rounds of the tournament.

Moresco, who is currently ranked No. 20 in the Women's World Amateur Golf Rankings and No. 16 in the NCAA Women's Division I Player Rankings, will compete with 30 of the world's best female amateurs in the final round at Augusta National Golf Club. While Moresco competed in the ANWA in 2021, it will mark the first time she has made the cut and advanced to Augusta National.

Tee times will be announced soon.

Format

An international field of women amateurs will compete over 54 holes of stroke play.
A cut will take place after 36 holes, advancing the leading 30 players to the final round at Augusta National Golf Club.
In the event of a tie after 54 holes, the winner will be decided by sudden-death playoff.

Schedule

The first 36 holes will be contested over two days on the Island and Bluff nines at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., March 30 and 31, 2022.
The entire field will then play Augusta National for an official practice round Friday, April 1.
The final round will take place at Augusta National on Saturday, April 2 and will feature the top 30 competitors who made the cut.
Tickets for the final round were made available in advance via an application process. No tickets will be available at the gates.

Qualification for Invitation

The field for the 2022 Championship will consist of the following players based on the following qualifications:
- Reigning U.S. Women's Amateur Champion
- Reigning Women's Amateur Champion
- Reigning Women's Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion
- Reigning R&A Girls Amateur Champion
- Reigning U.S. Girls' Junior Champion
- Reigning Girls Junior PGA Champion
- Past champions of the Augusta National Women's Amateur within the last five years
- The 30 highest ranked players from the United States of America based on the prior year's (2021) final Women's World Amateur Golf Ranking, not otherwise qualified
- After qualifications 1-8 above, the 30 highest ranked players not otherwise qualified, as listed on the prior year's (2021) final Women's World Amateur Ranking
- Players receiving special invitations from the Augusta National Women's Amateur Committee

How to Watch

NBC Sports will produce and broadcast three hours of live final-round coverage at Augusta National from noon – 2 p.m. CT on April 2, 2022.
NBC Sports will also provide pre-event promotion across NBCUniversal's portfolio, while Golf Channel will deliver highlights, live reports and news coverage throughout the event, including onsite during the first two competitive rounds at Champions Retreat.
Additionally, Golf Channel's "Live From the Masters" will commence on Friday, April 1 from Augusta National and wrap ANWA coverage on Saturday, April 2 and the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals on Sunday, April 3.

For all the latest information on the team, follow @AlabamaWGolf on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. General athletic news can be found @UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.

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University of Alabama Athletics