Augusta National Women’s Amateur First Round Comes to a Close

EVANS, Ga. – Morning rain and afternoon wind played a factor in the first round at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur on Wednesday, as University of Kentucky All-Americans Laney Frye and Jensen Castle turned in their first 18 holes at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Evans, Georgia. 

Frye, a Nicholasville, Kentucky, native, who is competing in her second straight Augusta National Women’s Amateur, put herself in position to make the cut for the first time. 

Starting on the back nine, she suffered an early 1-over on her first hole of the round, the par-4 No. 10. However, that didn’t keep her from putting herself in contention, as she responded with birdies on the par-4 No. 13 and the par-4 No. 15. She concluded an active back nine – her first nine of the round – even par after recording her second bogey on the par-5 No. 18. 

Following the turn, Frye strung together four straight pars, followed by a birdie on the par-4 No. 5, then two more pars, getting to 1-under and flirting with the top 20 at the time. The senior then wrestled with just one more bogey on her second-to-last hole of the round, the par-3 No. 8.  

Frye collected an even amount of birdies (3) and bogeys (3) on the day, assembling an even-par 72 for a share of 29th place. If the stroke-play portion of the championship were to end after the first round, she would be just inside the cut line, which is the top 30 and ties. 

“I feel good,” Frye said. “I mean I’ll show up and play my game (tomorrow) and see where that puts me. Thankfully, I’m excited right now. I’ll try not to think too much about it.” 

Following a one-hour rain delay, Castle got off to a strong start at Champions Retreat this morning, going 1-under through her first five holes thanks to four pars and a birdie on the par-5 No. 3. 

She then experienced four bogeys and four pars over her next eight holes, dipping 3-over through 11. Despite that burdensome stretch, she used her final seven holes to record just one more bogey and a pair of birdies on the par-5 No. 14 and the par-5 No. 18. 

Castle favored the par-5s on Wednesday, collecting all three birdies and one par on those holes.  

The West Columbia, South Carolina, native, who isn’t playing too far from her hometown, finished the first round with a 2-over-par 74 for a share of 44th place.  

“I’m not gonna lie, I’m really glad I was the second one off (the tee this morning),” Castle said. “Coming down the stretch, it (the wind) was blowing. All my friends give me crap because I don’t necessarily believe in the whole wind, slope situation, but just looking at flags, my hat fell off almost twice. Going into tomorrow, I’ll probably tie it a little tighter and play the wind a little bit more than I did today.” 

Castle is a proven competitor at Champions Retreat, making the cut each of the previous two years at the championship.

Golf Channel and NBC will continue their coverage of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, with the remaining broadcast schedule as follows: 

• Thursday (second round) – Golf Channel Live Coverage from 1:30-3:30 p.m. ET 
• Friday (practice round) – Golf Channel Live from the Augusta National Women’s Amateur from 1:30-3:30 p.m. ET 
• Saturday (final round) – NBC Live Coverage from noon-3 p.m. ET

Frye will tee off in the second round Thursday at 8:23 a.m. ET, while Castle will go off at 9:55 a.m. ET.  

For the latest on the Kentucky women’s golf team, follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as on the web at UKathletics.com.