ANWA Preview: Breaking Down the Top 10 Players to Watch

The wait is finally over. It’s one of the best weeks of the year, as 72 of the world’s best women’s amateurs make the trip to Augusta, Georgia. This year marks the 7th playing of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, which hosted it’s inaugural championship in 2019. The event was highlighted by Jennifer Kupcho’s second nine push, in which she played her last six holes 5 under par, leading her to become the first ANWA champion. Since then, the tournament has become one of the pinnacle’s of elite women’s amateur golf. This year’s field highlights that, with 48 of the top 50 amateur’s teeing it up in Augusta. The first 36 holes of the tournament are played at Champion’s Retreat, on the Island and Bluff nines.

Dan Perry, 13th hole at Augusta National

The entire field then makes the short drive over to Augusta National, where the entire field plays a practice round. Friday’s practice round provides an interesting spectacle. Those who missed the cut, are focused on wrapping up a memorable week, with a round at the game’s most storied club. In contrast, those who made the cut, are preparing for the most meaningful round of their lives. On top of adding their name to a storied list, this week’s champion will receive exemptions into 4 of the game’s 5 majors. Coverage of the opening two rounds is aired on Golf Channel from 1:30 to 3:30 PM. The broadcast then moves to NBC on Saturday, where coverage will run from 12 to 3 PM. With that, let’s highlight this week’s field.

10. Jasmine Koo

Koo, the 13th ranked amateur in the world, is making her third start at the ANWA. After missing the cut in her first year, she has made the cut in back to back starts, highlighted by a solo 4th finish in 2024. Just two weeks removed from her victory at the Dr. Dennis Thompson Invitational, she looks to add another trophy to her collection.

9. Eila Galitsky

Few players have had greater success at the ANWA in the last two years than Galitsky. She has garnered back to back top 10’s including a T4 in last years rendition. She should firmly be on everyone’s radar this week, as the 8th ranked amateur has already won multiple professional events in her home country of Thailand.

8. Meja Örtengren

Örtengren is one of five Stanford Cardinals in the field this week, which is a story in and of itself. She has finished inside of the top ten in six of her last seven events, including two victories. She has tallied two top 15’s in four starts in the championship, and looks to breakthrough in this year’s contest.

7. Paula Martin Sampedro

Sampredo is the second Stanford Cardinal, and spoiler alert, she won’t be the last. She has been one of the most accomplished amateurs in the game the past few years. Just last August she finished 8th in the AIG Women’s Open. In the weeks since, she has added two wins and three runner-up finishes to her resume. She has two top 25 finishes at the ANWA, highlighted by her T18 finish last year.

6. Farah O’ Keefe

O’Keefe is competing at the ANWA for her third straight year. Few players are in better form than her at the moment. She has won three of her last four starts, including a victory at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate. She showed great poise down the stretch, going one under in her last three holes to hold off Florida State’s Elin Pudas Reimer. After finishing tenth in last year’s tournament, she seeks her first victory in her thirst start.

5. Kiara Romero

The game’s top rated amateur finds herself in the 5th spot in our rankings. Fresh off a win at the Chevron Collegiate, she looks to keep the momentum going at this week’s championship. She’s proven herself on the game’s biggest stage before, with her win at the 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior. She looks to add another yet major amateur trophy to her cabinet this week. She greatly improved on her 2024 finish in last years championship, as she finished at -7 in a tie for seventh.

4. Andrea Revuelta

The fourth spot in our rankings takes us back to the Stanford super-team. Revuelta finished 15th in her home country of Spain’s national open last November. Recently, it has been more of the same, as she won her third college event at the Arizona Thunderbird Intercollegiate. The championship has treated her well, as she’s made the cut in both attempts. Additionally, she has improved each year at the championship, with a T-20 finish in her first try, and a T-4 finish in last year’s event

3. Catherine Park

Park has had major success in Augusta, making the cut in both of her starts. She is in great form coming into this week’s championship, tallying one victory as well as three runner-up finishes in her last 6 starts. She looks to amend last year’s T-4 finish, and hoist the trophy on Saturday.

2. Asterisk Talley

At just 17 years of age, Talley has accomplished more than most golfers will accomplish in their careers. She is in great form, winning each of the past 3 events she has competed in. One of which, came just next door, at the prestigious Junior Invitational, where she became the first ever two-time winner. She finished in second in last year’s playing, and her incredible form places her as a favorite to win. Oh, and she’s also heading to the Stanford superteam in 2027.

1. Megha Ganne

Ganne is perhaps the Superwoman of the Stanford super-team. She is the reigning US Women’s Amateur champion, and is making her sixth ANWA start. She fired a bogey free 63 in last year’s first round before back to back 73’s left her in a tie for seventh. Still, her experience places her as the favorite in our rankings this week.

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