Augusta, Ga. – Virginia senior Anna Redding (Concord, N.C.) finished tied for 26th at the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur championship that featured a field of 72 competitors. Playing the final round at August National Golf Club, Redding shot 4-over 76 for a 54-hole total of 7-over 223.
 
Redding was the first player to tee off among the 30 players who made the cut for the final round.

“Today was so incredibly special,” Redding said. “I made history today by hitting the very first competitive golf shot for women’s golf at Augusta National. That certainly doesn’t come around too often. 
 
“There were four hall of famers (who hit ceremonial first shots), Bubba Watson, the Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, Condoleezza Rice, and about 1000 people watching. I was definitely shaking a little on the first tee. It was such a special moment that I will remember for the rest of my life.”

She started her day 3-over par and posted a double bogey on her first hole. She brought her score back to 4-over with a birdie on No. 2 and then posted four consecutive pars before picking up a bogey on No. 7 and No. 10 to go to 6-over par.
 
She posted pars on holes 11 through 17, including the famous stretch of the course known as Amen Corner. She finished her round with a bogey on No. 18.

She said an errant shot on 13 led to one moment she will probably never forget.

“In Amen Corner on hope 13, I hit it into the gallery,” Redding said. “I was attempting a four-wood stinger around the corner. My drive hit a tree left popped out really far back. I didn’t hook it enough and was in the gallery!  We had to take the ropes down. I have a circle of people around me to hit my little 70-yard approach onto the green. I was smiling and laughing so much about my situation, that I had to back off and start my routine over because I was just overwhelmed with the by it all.”

Wake Forest’s Jennifer Kupcho, the reigning NCAA champion, won the tournament at 10-under 206. She played her final six holes at 5-under par to pull away from Arkansas’ Maria Fassi, who was the runner-up at 6-under 210.

“As I walked off 18, I was so thankful and happy to have just completed a competitive round at Augusta National,” Redding said. “There were so many people out there to support women’s golf. The applause coming off 18 and then shaking Bubba Watson’s hand was unforgettable!
 
“You could feel just this vibe in the air that everyone knew they were part of history and watching history be made. It was a day, and a week, I will never forget.”