Zhang, Heck and Davis among six wild cards for next LPGA major

The Amundi Evian Championship has announced six wild card selections for this year’s event, slated for July 21-24. The season’s fourth major will be held at the Evian Resort Golf Club in Évian-les-Bains, France, with an increased purse of $6.5 million and $1 million to the winner.

World No. 1 Jin Young Ko headlines the field along with No. 2 Nelly Korda and last year’s winner Minjee Lee, who won the U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles in June and finished runner-up at the KPMG Women’s PGA.

Five amateurs and one professional have been awarded exemptions this year, including top-ranked amateur Rose Zhang.

A look at the wild cards for 2022:

Rachel Heck
Rising Stanford junior won the 2021 Annika Award presented by Stifel on the heels of winning the NCAA Championship. Heck tied for 44th at the 2018 Evian and made the cut at the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open at age 15.

Anna Davis
Earned her exemption into the Evian by winning the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur. The 16-year-old Californian is No. 25 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Aline Krauter
German player helped Stanford win the team title at the 2022 NCAA Championship in May. Winner of the 2020 Women’s British Amateur Championship.

Rose Zhang
Top-ranked amateur won the 2022 NCAA Championship for Stanford en route to the 2022 Annika Award. Other titles include U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior. Shot a record-setting 8 under at the 2020 ANA Inspiration for a share of 11th. Placed 58th at 2021 Evian.

Benedetta Moresco
Italian amateur who competes at Alabama is currently No. 33 in the world. Won the 2021 Italian Ladies Stroke Play Championship.

Agathe Laisné
Former Texas player, now 23, is a rookie on the LPGA. Posted two wins on the LETAS in 2020. The French player twice competed in Evian Championship as a teenager but did not make the cut. Currently No. 124 on the CME points list.

by Beth Ann Nichols, Golfweek