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Who is in the field

The sixth edition of the ANWA features 28 of the top 30 players in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com Women's Rankings, including every player in the top 20. Aine Donegan and Sara Brentcheneff are the two players in the top 30 who are not playing.

Anne Walker's Stanford team will have six active players in the ANWA field: Megha Ganne will compete in her fifth ANWA. While Meja Ortengren accepted the invitation for the third time in her career and Andrea Revuelta, Paula Martin Sampedro, Nora Sundberg, and Kelly Xu will all compete for the first time. In addition, Rachel Heck, a 2024 graduate, will compete for the fifth time.

Three of the five former Champions in the field this year. Tsubasa Kajitani (2021), Anna Davis (2022), and Lottie Woad (2024) will all try to become the first two-time champion of the event. The other two winners, Jennifer Kupcho (2019) and Rose Zhang (2023) have both turned professional. 

Another notable in the field is Rianne Malixi. The star from the Philipines is hoping to hold three of the biggest trophies in women's amateur golf at once. She won the U.S. Junior Amateur and the U.S. Amateur last summer.

In both those finals, Malixi defeated Asterisk Talley. Talley set some of her own records last year. She is the only player to compete in three USGA champion finals in one year (U.S. Four-Ball, U.S. Women's Amateur, and U.S. Junior Amateur). Talley recorded a T8 finish in her ANWA debut last year. 

Seven players in the top 13 will return to ANWA this year. Along with champion Lottie Woad, Bailey Shoemaker, Hannah Darling, Jasmine Koo, Gianna Clemente, Talley, and Mirabel Ting all had strong weeks and will be back this year.

What happened last year

Lottie Woad started the day with the lead, but an electric, bogey-free 66 from Arizona State star Bailey Shoemaker but Woad on the defensive. After leaving Amen Corner with a bogey on the par-5 13th hole, it appeared Woad was leaking oil. Her lead had disappeared and Shoemaker was in the clubhouse at 7-under par.

Woad stood on the 14th tee at 5-under par. Her tee shot on the 14th hit a tree, but she made a phenomenal par that kick-started an impressive final stretch. She made birdies on the 15th and then another one on the 17th to pull into a tie for the lead.

It left many thinking a playoff was on the horizon. However, the gritty, steadfast Woad had other plans. She hit a solid shot into the 18th green and poured in the winning putt to edge Shoemaker by a single stroke.

What's at stake

The winner of the ANWA will earn exemptions into three majors: the Chevron Championship, U.S. Women’s Open and AIG Women’s Open, an invitation to the next five Augusta National Women’s Amateurs and any USGA, R&A and PGA of America amateur championships for which she is eligible for one year, provided the champion remains an amateur.