AUGUSTA, Ga. — Carla Bernat Escuder wasn’t looking over her shoulder at competitors, only focusing on those leading the way. With a newly mastered flop shot, birdies on all the par 5s, and a steady 4-foot par putt to seal her victory, the Spanish golfer emerged victorious at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Bernat Escuder overcame a two-shot deficit against defending champion Lottie Woad and fended off a late surge from young contender Asterisk Talley, finishing with a 4-under 68 to continue Spain’s legacy at the prestigious venue.
Reflecting on her win, Bernat Escuder, a senior at Kansas State, admitted, “As of right now, I don’t think my brain has processed that I won.” Hailing from the same region as Masters champion Sergio Garcia, she benefited from his father’s ongoing mentorship. Meeting two-time Masters winner Jose Maria Olazabal left her so starstruck she even got his name wrong. A crucial component of her victory was advice from U.S. Amateur champion Jose Luis Ballester, a childhood friend also from Castellon, who guided her chipping skills. Her spectacular flop shot on the 10th hole, executed from a tricky position, helped her maintain her momentum.
She found herself with the ball slightly above her feet next to the bunker, and impressively executed a flop shot to 12 feet before sinking the par putt. “If there was one shot that you’re going to need the hands back to hit it higher, as he tells me, it’s this one,” Bernat Escuder recalled, grateful for the insightful tip. Having watched the Masters, she knew the significance of the back nine and positioned herself in the lead with a strong performance on the front nine.
The 10th hole proved more pivotal than anticipated for both Bernat Escuder and her closest rival, Woad, who aimed to become the first to win consecutive Augusta National Women’s Amateurs. Woad started with promise, leading with a birdie on the first hole, but misjudged her approach on the 10th and landed in a bush. Her penalty drop resulted in a double bogey, setting her back by three strokes.
Woad expressed her frustration, explaining, “I put a good swing on it; it was just the wrong club.” Despite her efforts, she could only muster two birdies, resulting in a third-place finish with a final score of 72. Meanwhile, the challenge continued from Talley, the U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Junior Girls runner-up, who began her final round with an eagle.
After narrowing the gap at the 16th, Talley delivered a remarkable shot from under the pines on the 17th hole, setting herself up for a birdie and keeping her in contention. However, a slightly overpowered approach on the 18th left her just shy of closing the gap entirely. She managed to two-putt for par and completed her round with a 68.
“I was just trying to shoot my score and having a lot of fun,” Talley said of her performance. Bernat Escuder, placed behind her by a group, also faced challenges at the 17th with a bunker greeting her next shot, resulting in a bogey. Nonetheless, she confidently navigated the final hole, securing her lead with a composed 4-foot par putt to clinch victory with a total of 12-under 204.
Eila Galitsky, who started the day seven shots behind, surged with a front-nine score of 31 and finished with a round-low 66, tying for fourth place with Catherine Park (67). To celebrate her significant achievement, Bernat Escuder planned a celebratory dinner with her coach and supporters. Considering a tribute to her victory, she mused, “And maybe a tattoo. We’ll see,” pondering a flower of Augusta as a lasting symbol of her success.