AUGUSTA, Ga. – Saturday wasn’t just a typical round of golf for Erica Shepherd of the Duke women’s golf team. Shepherd earned the opportunity to walk the Augusta National Golf Club as she played in the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA), where she turned in a 76 on her way to placing tied for 22nd with a 54-hole ledger of 221.
Shepherd, who hails from Greenwood, Ind., made her third appearance in the final round of the ANWA. She now holds finishes of tied for 22nd (2023), 16th (2021) and tied for 21st (2019) over her career. Shepherd appearance in the ANWA in 2023 was her fourth since the event was established in 2019.
“I would just say that overall being a part of it and seeing it evolve over the four years,” said Shepherd on her experience at the ANWA. “Seeing how much it’s done for women’s golf and seeing all the girls that come out here that are inspired. I think that has been the best part.”
On Saturday, Shepherd opened her round on hole No. 10. After a bogey on No. 10, she played her next five holes at 2-under-par with birdies on No. 13 and No. 15 to get to 1-under-par. Shepherd hit the par-5 greens in two and two-putted for birdie on both holes. She closed her first nine holes with bogeys on No. 16 and No. 18. On the final nine, Shepherd registered six pars and three bogeys to finish with a 76.
“I would just say my round today, I honestly got off to a pretty hot start,” said Shepherd. “Both of the par-5s, I had a 5-iron in two. So, just to be able to hit both of those greens and get some momentum going was great. Kind of think the rain delay might have thrown me off a bit.”
Rose Zhang took home medalist honors after winning a two-hole playoff against Jenny Bae, after finishing in a tie with a 9-under-par, 207, through 54 holes.
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