Detroit Lakes Native Playing in Augusta National Women’s Amateur Golf Tournament
It's the most wonderful time of the year for golfers. Courses are starting to open again, and the Masters Tournament at Augusta National is on the horizon.
Augusta National first allowed women to become members of the course in 2012, and in 2019 the first Augusta National Women's Amateur was held at the course. The winner of the tournament receives invitations to the next five ANWAs, that year's U.S. Women's Open and Women's British Open, and any USGA, R&A, and PGA of America amateur events for which she is otherwise eligible prior to the next ANWA – all providing she remains an amateur.
This year there is a Minnesotan competing from Detriot Lakes. Katherine Smith is a 21-year-old who is ready to prove herself in Georgia.
he captured the Minnesota Women's State Amateur Championship in her home state in July 2020 and followed that victory with co-medalist honors at the GCAA Amateur Series Colorado in September. Over the summer, she advanced to the second round of match play at the U.S. Women's Amateur.
Katherine is currently a senior at the University of Nebraska studying graphic design and was a five-time Minnesota state champion at Detroit Lakes High School.
Katherine has been documenting her journey at Augusta on her Instagram page, and I can't wait to see how the tournament plays out for her. Even though she is a couple of years younger than I am, I remember being a little girl and dreaming of playing that course, only to find out it was exclusive to men. Now she is out there proving that women can do anything they set their minds to. Go Katherine!