Three England internationals have received prized invitations to compete in the first Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April.
Lily May Humphreys, Annabell Fuller and Alice Hewson all opened their invitations, which mirror those sent out to competitors in the Masters Tournament itself, this morning [Friday]. And all three immediately took to social media to too express their delight at the call up. “It’s amazing,” said Humphreys. “Can’t believe it,” posted Fuller, while Hewson told her Twitter followers: “Growing up I never thought it was possible to receive a little green and gold letter in the post… Augusta National here I come!”
The championship was announced at last year’s Masters Tournament and will be played by an international field of 72. They will all play the first two rounds at Champions Retreat Golf Club, then have a practice round at Augusta National before the top 30 players play the final round there.
“This was one of my goals for the year,” said Humphreys (pictured). “It will be amazing and such a good field. I never imagined I would play at Augusta – and the invitation is cool.”
The initial field for the new championship includes the winners of six events and leading players from the world rankings. Hewson is 39th, Humphreys is 53rd and Fuller 55th. All three are Curtis Cup players.
Humphreys, 16, from Stoke by Nayland Golf Club in Essex, also won the Helen Holm Scottish amateur open last year and represented Team GB in the Youth Olympics. Her targets for this year include claiming a place in the Junior Solheim Cup team and the GB&I team for the Vagliano Trophy match against Continental Europe – and bagging a couple of titles.
Hewson, from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, and Fuller, from Roehampton in Surrey, are both studying in the USA. Hewson, 21, has played in two Curtis Cups – including the 2016 GB&I victory – and helped England to two European team gold medals.
Fuller, 16, played in Europe’s team in the 2018 Junior Ryder Cup and was runner-up in both the English and Portuguese women’s amateur championships.
All three players are in the initial GB&I Vagliano Trophy squad.