By Beth Ann Baldry -- Lorena Ochoa often talked about the 2002 Kraft Nabisco Championship, when she was paired with Annika Sorenstam during the third round. A sophomore at Arizona, Ochoa played that week courtesy of a coveted Kraft amateur exemption. It was a memorable experience for the eventual 2008 Kraft winner.
Last year, Kraft extended seven exemptions to amateurs across the country. Six of those players have since turned professional, leaving Auburn’s Cydney Clanton as the only possible amateur to return.
If Golfweek was handing out exemptions, we’d give a nod to the following standouts:
Doris
Chen - 2010 U.S. Girls’ Junior champ;
AJGA First-Team Rolex All-American
Cydney Clanton - Auburn
standout, No. 2 in Golfweek/amateurgolf.com
Women’s Rankings
Ariya Jutanugarn
- No. 1 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Junior
Rankings; Junior Orange Bowl champ
Danielle Kang -
2010 U.S. Women’s Amateur champ,
No. 1 in Golfweek/amateurgolf.com
Women’s Rankings
Megan
McChrystal - LSU standout, No. 1 in the
Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings
Lisa McCloskey - No.
3 in Golfweek/amateurgolf.com Women’s
Rankings; No. 4 in college rankings; finalist
Women’s Amateur Public Links
Emily Tubert -
2010 U.S. Women’s Amateur