TEEN SPIRIT
Augusta National Women’s Amateur champ Anna Davis rallies late, makes cut in first LPGA appearance
Harry How
Anna Davis was well outside the cut line late Friday at the LPGA’s Palos Verdes Championship. Then the magic happened.
The 16-year-old champion of the third Augusta National Women’s Amateur earlier this month at Augusta National Golf Club had earned an exemption into the LPGA event in her native California. It was her first appearance in a professional tournament.
After an impressive opening-round even-par 71 at Palos Verdes Golf Club, which included three birdies and three bogeys, the left-handed high-school sophomore struggled for most of her second round and was several shots outside the cut line. Through the first 15 holes Friday she was four over and had made five bogeys against one lone birdie.
“I knew that obviously I had to make something happen to make the cut,” Davis told reporters. “I knew that I had to be kind of aggressive going into the last few holes.”
She was. Davis reached the 499-yard, par-5 16th hole in two shots and then made a 40-footer for eagle. She followed with birdie on the par-3 17th hole and closed with a par on the last to shoot one-over 72 to tie for 52nd place. She made the cut by two shots.
“It was my goal to make the cu,t so I’m glad that I could do that,” Davis said. “Yeah, it’ll be cool to play this weekend.”
Hannah Green followed an opening 67 with a second-round 66 and is leading in inaugural LPGA event at nine under par. Lydia Ko, Megan Khang, Jin Young Ko and Minjee Lee are tied for second place, three shots behind.