Fuller ties for 22nd at Augusta National Women’s Amateur
Florida golfer Annabell Fuller’s first competitive round at Augusta National Golf Club was bittersweet for the Gators sophomore.
This time Fuller, during her second appearance at the event, was among the 30 players to qualify for the final round, staged on the iconic course for a national TV audience. The native of England also was in contention for the title entering Saturday, particularly based on how the final 18 holes played out.
But Fuller was unable to summon her best golf at the biggest moments, opening her round with bogeys on two of the first three holes on the way to a 7-over-par 79 and a tie for 22nd place at 10-over 226.
Fuller began the day four shots behind leaders Rose Zhang and Ingrid Lindbland.
Each opened the day at 1-under but carded 75s to finish at 2-over and one shot out of a playoff between eventual winner Tsubasa Kajitani and Emilia Migliaccio.
Fuller’s birdie at the par-4 9th hole kept her within striking distance, but she faded with a 41 on the back nine of Augusta National, site of next week’s Masters Tournament.
Ranked 14th in the world among female amateur golfers, Fuller played in the 2019 debut of the Women’s Amateur and did not qualify for the final round. This time she finished tied for 10th among the 82 invitees after 36 holes to get a crack at Augusta National.
Fuller was far from the only one to struggle on the demanding layout and lightning-fast greens.
The Gators’ No. 1 player has top-10 finishes, including a win, during the team’s four spring events. Fuller will wrap up the regular season with her team Tuesday and Wednesday at the LSU Invitational.