Abbey Schutte’s 66 Sets Pace at AZ Women’s Amateur at Desert Highlands

SCOTTSDALE – Abbey Schutte carded birdies on half the holes she played, racing out to a four-shot lead after the first round of the 2023 Arizona Women’s Amateur Championship Tuesday at Desert Highlands Golf Club. Schutte’s -6 (66) was four shots better than Arizona State University senior Ashley Menne, whose five birdies on the round contributed to a -2 (70) – the only two players in the 62-player field to break par. Click here for the full leaderboard.

“I love this course – honestly we should all feel super blessed to be able to play here,” said Schutte, 18, a three-time JGAA Girls’ Player of the Year and incoming freshman at the University of Arkansas. “My game felt great today. Started off a little slow, a couple birdies and a couple bogeys early on. I just really tried to stay patient and let the ball do what it was going to do.”

“I played pretty solid out there and made some good putts coming in,” said Menne, 21, the 2020 and 2021 Arizona Women’s Amateur Champion. “The course is in great condition and the greens are rolling really nice. So I’m excited about coming back tomorrow and hopefully playing a little bit better.”

University of Denver incoming freshman Brooke McGlasson sits alone in third place after the first round, shooting an even-par 72 with three birdies. Sue Wooster – who currently has exemptions into the U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur at Troon Country Club at the end of September and the U.S. Women’s Senior Open in Oregon at the end of the month – and Cal Poly SLO senior Vanessa Wang round out the top 5 at +1.

Schutte’s roller-coaster front nine saw only one par – five birdies and three bogeys to make the turn in 34. But four more birdies in a clean back nine saw her finish in 32, good for the best round of the day.

“Honestly when I sat down to sign my scorecard I didn’t even realize what I had shot,” said Schutte, who qualified for the 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur by earning medalist honors at a Desert Highlands qualifier. “I feel like I have a super solid gameplan out there. Not playing conservative but not taking unnecessary risks. Just definitely hitting it in the fairway and hitting it on the greens, and I’m putting great so I’m just letting it roll.

Second round play continues Wednesday morning at Desert Highlands. A live leaderboard will be available by clicking here.