AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn sophomore Kaleigh Telfer, a native of South Africa, accepted her invitation this week to play in the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur. The event will take place the week before the Masters Tournament, April 3-6.
The field is made up of the best 72 women amateurs from all over world who will compete over 54 holes of stroke play, with a cut to 30 players taking place after 36 holes.
The first 36 holes will be played on Wednesday and Thursday at the Champions Retreat Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Then the entire field will play a practice round Friday at Augusta National Golf Club followed by Saturday's final round which will also take place at Augusta National and feature the top 30 competitors who made the cut.
"It's just a huge opportunity to go play the best course in the world," Telfer said. "Obviously, it's been a goal of mine, and I thought I missed it when they released the first selection. But just to be chosen by the Augusta board, it's incredible."
The event was established last year to inspire greater interest and participation in the women's game by creating a new, exciting pathway for elite players to fulfill their dreams.
"I remember last year when they announced the Augusta National Women's Amateur and how excited the world of golf was," Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. "And how women are just being so respected and their games and how hard they work.
"To have an opportunity to have one of our hardest workers, who respects the game and does everything in her power to do the right thing – and overcoming challenges that she's had, the fact that she gets rewarded by being invited to play in this tournament is outstanding. I know that she's going to be over the moon."
Telfer finished the fall season with a share of the individual title in the Battle at the Beach. In four tournaments, she shot par or better in seven of 10 rounds and averaged 71.20 per round. The sophomore, who is ranked No. 17 nationally per Golfstat, had two top five finishes, four in the top 15, and was added to the ANNIKA Award Watch List in November.
For those hoping to watch Telfer, NBC Sports will produce and broadcast three hours (Noon – 3 p.m. ET) of live final-round coverage of the event at Augusta National. Golf Channel will deliver on-site highlights, live reports and news coverage throughout the event.
Additionally, Golf Channel's "Live From the Masters" will commence on Friday, April 5 at Augusta National to provide coverage of the Augusta National Women's Amateur, the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals and the Masters Tournament.
For more information on the event, click here.