Chun’s 73 Positions Her 16th at Augusta National Women’s Amateur

Chun’s 73 Positions Her 16th at Augusta National Women’s Amateur

AUGUSTA, Ga.  — University of Michigan women’s golfer Monet Chun used an opening 73 (+1) on Wednesday (March 29) to position herself tied for 16th after the first round of the prestigious Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) played at the Champions Retreat.

Chun will play her second round Thursday (March 30) in the final pairing off the 10th tee at 10:07 a.m., once again at the Champions Retreat. The top 30 in the 72-golfer field advances to Saturday’s (April 1) championship round at the famed Augusta National Golf Club.

“It’s been an amazing experience so far,” said Chun. “I stuck with my game plan for the most part today. I just wanted to keep the mindset of one shot at a time. I did have a couple of bogeys out there, but I did feel I played the holes fairly well. Tomorrow, I am just going to keep the same game plan — focus on me and what I can do. What’s really helpful is having my sister (Adele) with me. We go through each shot and that is very helpful.”

In her ANWA debut, Chun was part of the amateur’s opening group from the first tee along with Yana Wilson (Oregon commit) and Miku Ueta (Japan).  With her sister, Adele, on her bag, Chun opened her first ANWA carding eight consecutive pars, before posting the first of her three birdies on the par-5 ninth hole.

Making the turn at one-under, Chun drew even with the first of four backside bogeys as she went back to par after 10 holes. Birdies on 12 and 15 negated back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 13 and 14 as she made her way to the 18th at even par. After Chun missed her par putt on her final hole, she closed her opening round with a bogey to tally a 73 (+1), along with five other amateurs.

Chun is the third Wolverine to participate in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Last year, Hailey Borja advanced to the 2022 final round, tying for 12th (71-76-74/221), while Ashley Lau tied for 43rd (78-75/153).

Chun earned an exemption to the 2023 Augusta National Women’s Amateur after her exceptional 2022 spring season. After winning the Big Ten individual title and guiding U-M to its first conference championship, she used that momentum to win the 2022 Canadian Women’s Amateur granting her an exemption to the…