UF golfer Marta Perez hits her approach shot at the 13th hole Saturday, the final challenge of the three-hole stretch known as Amen Corner at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Courtesy of Augusta National Women's Amateur media relations)
A Day Unlike Any Other for Gators at Augusta National
Saturday, April 6, 2019 | Women's Golf, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Both players had their I-can't-believe-that moments on Saturday during a historic day at one of golf's most historic venues.
They heard "Go Gators" chants. They signed autographs and more autographs. They played in front of the biggest crowds either had witnessed from within the ropes.
It was an experience neither will forget. An experience they can't forget, one that resonated too deep to let drift into the fog.
"That's new territory,'' said UF women's golf coach Emily Glaser. "To be honest, I think I'm still trying to wrap my head around the whole thing a little bit. They learned a lot."
With their fathers carrying their bags in the final round of the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur, the names of UF juniors Sierra Brooks and Marta Perez both appeared on the green-and-white leaderboards poking at the sky around azalea-drenched Augusta National Golf Club.
Their practice of not looking at the scoreboard was tossed in a bunker.
"The feeling of walking up to the ninth green and seeing your name on the leaderboard, that was great,'' Perez said. "That was awesome."
In the end, neither Brooks nor Perez seriously threatened to become the first woman crowned champion at the home of the Masters. Both entered Saturday's final round within striking distance, Brooks two shots back of leader and eventual champion Jennifer Kupcho, and Perez tied for 11th six shots back.
Brooks shot a 4-over-par 76 to finish tied for 10th (71-70-76—217). Perez shot a 3-over to finish tied for 21st (70-75-75—220), well behind Kupcho, who blistered Augusta National with a 67 to outduel runner-up Maria Fassi for the title in front of a large and boisterous crowd that had Masters officials smiling. The newest event in women's golf proved an instant success and instant classic as Kupcho and Fassi traded shots and the lead until Kupcho pulled away by shooting 5-under on the final six holes, including an eagle on the 13th.
As Brooks, playing in the next-to-last group, eyed her tee shot at No. 17, a swarm of spectators engulfed the area to watch the final group approach the 16th green. Even with a laser focus on the task at hand, Brooks could tell what was happening behind her.
Gators junior Sierra Brooks tees off on the first hole Saturday as her caddie and father, Brent, looks on at the Augusta National Women's Amateur. (Photo: Courtesy of the ANWA media relations department)
"I knew they were lighting it up,'' she said. "I could hear it."
The best part of Martez's day came on the front nine when she birdied holes 5, 6 and 8 to move to 2-under for the tournament. Her father, Jose Perez, traveled from Spain to serve as her caddy and share in an event that women's golf observers consider a monumental boost to the game.
As around 20 family members and friends watched Brooks move around the course, Glaser and Gators assistant coach Janice Olivencia stuck with Perez for much of the afternoon.
Perez was disappointed in her performance on the back nine but far from upset.
"I've never played with so many people watching but it was awesome,'' Perez said. "It felt great. Everyone was supporting us and everyone was just impressed with our game I guess. It kind of felt like I was playing in a professional event, how they were taking care of us, people watching, the conditions of the course."
Since last year's Masters when former Gators golfer Fred Ridley, now chairman of Augusta National, announced plans for the club to host the Women's Amateur, the women's game has been abuzz over the possibilities.
The added exposure of hosting the event at one of the game's most hallowed sites a week before this year's Masters was sure to garner media attention. Mission accomplished. Still, the Gators' contingent in Augusta was blown away by the response from fans who poured onto the grounds to watch the final round that was also televised live on NBC and the Golf Channel.
"I don't think anybody knew what to expect,'' said Glaser, who played in three U.S. Opens during her career but considered Saturday's atmosphere unique by comparison. "I'm just so impressed with the vision that Augusta National had to do this."
Glaser then borrowed a line from the baseball movie "Field of Dreams."
"If you host it, they will come,'' she said.
They definitely did. While Augusta National does not release attendance figures and longtime visitors said Saturday's crowd was not on par with a typical Masters crowd, Brooks had to take a deep breath and then another as she stepped to the first tee at 10:10 a.m.
Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, decked in a green jacket, had just stopped by along with several thousand fans. Brooks then launched a tee shot that landed in a bunker down the right fairway.
"Words can't even describe that feeling,'' Brooks said. "It was a surreal moment for me and something I will never forget."
When her father, Brent Brooks, asked what she felt on the tee shot, Sierra didn't really have an answer.
"I don't know,'' she replied. "I was feeling every kind of emotion possible."
Brooks' best hole of the final round was No. 8, where she bounced a long chip shot off a hill on the elevated green to within five feet of the pin. The shot she'd like to use a mulligan was her approach at the par-5 No. 13, the final test through Amen Corner. Brooks drilled her drive onto the elevated right side of the fairway and, after much contemplation, opted to try and reach the green in two. Her low-flying approach landed on the fairway in front of the green. The only problem is that it bounced into a tributary of Rae's Creek. She took a drop and after flopping her fourth shot on the green, needed three putts for a double bogey.
She recovered to finish the round with five consecutive pars.
"I saw the shot and visualized it but it didn't go off the club like I had planned,'' Brooks said.
While Brooks and Perez tumbled down the leaderboard on a cool, overcast spring afternoon in Augusta, they had no thoughts of a good walk spoiled afterward. Not with their caddies lending support beyond what club to use.
"I thought it was the best thing I could give him,'' Perez said. "He's been supporting me for so long. This week was going to be a really special week for both of us. I really wanted him to be with me at all times."
Same for Brooks, who debated Friday whether to use a local caddie for a competitive advantage.
As she walked up the fairway to the 18th green Saturday, Brooks' eyes started to water in front of thousands of fans who awaited her and playing partner Pimnipa Panthong's arrival.
She took a moment to reflect on a day unlike no other on the course they play the tournament called a tradition like no other. Brooks and her dad shared a hug after her par putt before snaking through a long line of high-fives and autograph requests as they made their way toward the clubhouse.
"Having him on the bag, last round at Augusta National, there's nothing that beats that. One of the best memories ever."
