Championship Recap: Mackenzie Lee Claims the Title at Pinehurst

Mackenzie Lee capped off a brilliant week at Pinehurst No. 2 by defeating Jazy Roberts 2 & 1 in Saturday’s championship match to win the 123rd North & South Women’s Amateur. Lee, the No. 19 seed, showed remarkable resilience all week—surviving two early 20-hole marathons and delivering a clinical performance in the final.

Lee jumped ahead early in the championship match, going 2 up at the turn after steady putting and precise approaches. Roberts battled back with birdies, but Lee’s short game proved decisive down the stretch as she closed it out on the 17th green. With her victory, Lee adds her name to the storied list of North & South champions—cementing her status as one of amateur golf’s rising stars.

The championship match was the culmination of a week that saw top seeds fall early, dramatic comebacks, and Pinehurst No. 2’s famous greens testing every player’s creativity and nerve.

Stroke Play Recap: Three Tied for Medalist Honors

After two intense days of stroke play at Pinehurst, three players share the honor of co-medalist at the 123rd North & South Women’s Amateur: Pimchompoo Chaisilprungruang, Amelie Zalsman, and Macy Pate. Each finished at 6-under-par 138, highlighted by matching 66s on No. 2 in Round 2 by Zalsman and Pate. Chaisilprungruang, who entered tied for the lead after Round 1, closed strong with a 68.

China’s Zi Ge Wang (-5) and Stanford signee Megha Ganne (-3) round out the top five, with Ganne showing consistency on both courses. Grace Kilcrease and Avery McCrery tied for sixth at -2, keeping themselves in strong position as match play looms.

The cut line fell at +3, with 32 players advancing. Top seeds will now face sudden-death matchups on Pinehurst No. 2, where precision and grit will determine who survives and advances.

A Championship with Historic Roots

First played in 1903, the North & South Women’s Amateur is among the oldest and most prestigious championships in women's amateur golf. It has crowned legends including Babe Zaharias, Louise Suggs, Carol Semple Thompson, Danielle Kang, Yani Tseng, and Gabriela Ruffels.

The Courses: Pinehurst No. 2 and No. 4

Match play unfolds entirely on Pinehurst No. 2, Donald Ross’s iconic design known for its domed greens and strategic subtleties. No. 2 has hosted three U.S. Opens and will welcome both the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open in 2029. The stroke play rounds are split with No. 4, a bold, elevated redesign by Gil Hanse that rewards creativity and shot-making.

Stroke Play: Survive and Advance

The pressure of stroke play is real — only 16 players earn the right to compete in match play. Here’s how recent years have played out:

• 2024: Cut at +3 — Medalist: Macy Pate (-6, 136)
• 2023: Cut at +3 — Medalist: Ashley Menne (-5, 139)
• 2022: Cut at +2 — Medalist: Hannah Levi (-7, 137)
• 2021: Cut at +2 — Medalist: Abbey Daniel (-3, 141)
• 2020: Cut at +2 — Co-Medalists: Rachel Heck & Ivy Shepherd (-5, 139)

Two rounds on No. 2 and No. 4 determine whether your week continues. It’s a test of course management, patience, and precision from tee to green. Historically, the cut line has hovered between +2 and +3, reflecting the demanding setup and elite field.

Match Play Brilliance

Match play at Pinehurst produces drama and reveals who can execute under pressure. In 2024, Catie Craig, the No. 3 seed, stormed through the bracket and capped off a dominant week with a 4&3 victory over top-seeded Macy Pate in the championship match.

Craig, a student of golf course architecture at Western Kentucky and a part-time golf course maintenance worker, credited her knowledge of Ross’s subtle slopes and native transitions for helping her manage No. 2. She won her first four holes in the final and never looked back, claiming the Putter Boy trophy in style.

“To be able to play such an iconic course and win in the same year of the U.S. Open – that’s really cool,” said Craig. “And the first time the men and women playing in the same week, it’s a very unique year to win.”

Why It Matters

The North & South Women’s Amateur is one of the seven Elite Amateur Golf Series events and a gateway to the top of the game. With WAGR points, major invites, and a spot on a century-old trophy, the stakes are high.

It’s not just about winning — it’s about belonging to a historic lineage that began with Myra Paterson in 1903 and continues through Danielle Kang, Yani Tseng, and Catie Craig.

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