Minseo Jung earns applause from legend Sorenstam but finishes with disappointment at Augusta
Augusta National Women's Amateur
Augusta, Georgia - Korean amateur golfer Minseo Jung made a promising start with a memorable birdie on the first hole of Augusta National, cheered on by none other than golfing icon Annika Sorenstam. But ultimately, she struggled to keep pace, finishing tied for 32nd at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA).
Jung, wearing her KB Financial Group uniform, arrived at Augusta’s first tee to a wave of applause from the legendary Sorenstam, clad in her iconic green jacket. Jung’s nerves were evident as she faced the dramatically different atmosphere compared to the earlier qualifying rounds at Champions Retreat.
After taking a calming breath and stretching away her tension, Jung's opening drive sailed past the right-side bunker and settled safely on the fairway, prompting enthusiastic applause from Sorenstam. "That's a really good swing," Sorenstam remarked warmly.
The highlight quickly followed as Jung expertly sank her birdie putt, igniting cheers from the patrons surrounding the first green—an unforgettable start at one of golf’s most revered venues.
Yet, the initial excitement quickly waned as Jung faltered with a triple bogey on the very next hole and compounded her troubles with consecutive bogeys. Despite battling back briefly with birdies on the seventh and eighth, Jung's struggles deepened over the back nine, including a triple and quadruple bogey, which pushed her down the leaderboard.
Starting the day at four under par, she ultimately closed her tournament at eight over, carding a final round total of 224. Post-round, Jung admitted to mixed emotions: "It’s an honour to represent KGA here, but I realised there’s still much room for improvement. I will work hard to become a better golfer."
Meanwhile, victory went to Spain's Carla Bernat Escuder, who triumphed impressively with a final total of 12-under par, clinching the title in her third ANWA appearance. The victory earned her invitations to both the US Women’s Open and the AIG Women’s Open, along with a five-year exemption to return to Augusta, provided she retains her amateur status.