Menne (-4) stays consistent, holds 36-hole lead at AZ Women's Am

SCOTTSDALE – Surprise’s Ashley Menne posted a second straight round of -2 (70) Wednesday, taking the 36-hole lead at -4 overall in the 2023 Arizona Women’s Amateur Championship at Desert Highlands Golf Club. 18-hole leader Abbey Schutte of Goodyear sits alone in second place two shots back after carding a +4 (76). Click here for the full leaderboard.

“I hit it really good today – I would say my ball striking was really nice and kept it down the middle, I didn’t lose any balls today so that was great,” said Menne, the 2020 and 2021 Arizona Women’s Amateur Champion and a senior at Arizona State University. “It felt nice coming in toward the last few holes to make a couple putts that mattered.”

Sue Wooster carded an even-par 72 and sits at +1 overall, good for third place heading into Thursday’s final round. The low round of the day belonged to University of Arizona junior Sydney Bryan of Mesa, who exploded for five birdies on the back nine to finish off a -3 (69). Bryan joked after the round she wished she had nine more holes to keep the hot play going.

“It’s just about momentum – it definitely helps when you see a bunch of putts go in, it helps the mindset,” said Bryan, whose father, Jeff Fisher, is serving as her caddie this week. “I’m just trying to stay present, though, and not get too ahead of myself really helps.”

“I think it was a good day in terms of ball striking, I think I hit every fairway and only missed two greens,” said Wooster, 61, of Melbourne, Australia, and a three-time U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Runner-up. “I’m happy with that – it’s very hard and tough in these really tough conditions.”

Wooster’s appearance at the Arizona Women’s Amateur Championship kicks off an impressive stretch of events over the next couple months, including the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship next weekend at Bel-Air Country Club; the U.S. Senior Women’s Open August 24–27 at Waverley Country Club in Portland; the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Sept. 9-14 at Stonewall in Elverson, Penn.; and the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Sept. 30-Oct. 5 at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale.

“I thought the opportunity to play this event on this great golf course against the young girls would be a good warm-up for next week,” said Wooster. “I’ve still got a little bit more energy left, I still love my golf and I can still play pretty good. So I’m very grateful for my lifestyle and the opportunity to play all those great events and meet some wonderful people.

Final round play is set for Thursday at Desert Highlands. A live leaderboard will be available by clicking here.