PHOENIX, ARIZ. – Under scorching 107-degree temperatures at Papago Golf Club, 61 players competed for qualifying spots in the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. Emerging from the field were Arizona natives Kendall Todd, Raegan Capizzi and Abbey Schutte, who claimed the three qualifying spots.
Todd, a Litchfield Park native, caught fire early by sinking five birdies on the front nine alone. Finishing with a score of -4, the reigning AZ GOLF Women’s Match Play Champion secured the first qualifying spot and low medalist honors. Todd credited her putting with her low score.
“The round went well. The front nine went really well,” Todd said. “I made a lot of putts and slowed down on the back nine but stayed steady and finished strong.”
Kendall Todd tees off on the 18th hole during the 2024 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship Qualifier at Papago Golf Club (Photo by Brandon Genson)
Joining Todd at the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship is her University of Arkansas teammate, Schutte, who secured one of the remaining spots with a stellar performance, including back-to-back birdies on two occasions. This will be Schutte’s second appearance in the Championship; she qualified in 2022 as low medalist before missing the match play cut at Chambers Bay Golf Course.
“I can’t wait,” Schutte said of joining Todd in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. “And it’s close to Arkansas. We’re only a couple hours away, so that’s even better.”
Rounding out the group is Capizzi, who qualified for her second consecutive U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. The incoming freshman at the University of Denver looks forward to making her mark after missing match play at Bel-Air Country Club last year.
Gracie McGovern and Jiayi Wang, both finishing at -2, secured the first and second alternate positions, respectively. The 2024 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship is scheduled to commence on August 5th at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma.