Auburn graduate student Megan Schofill emerged as the champion of the 123rd U.S. Women’s Amateur, held at the prestigious Bel-Air Country Club. In the 36-hole final, she defeated her long-time friend Latanna Stone, a graduate student from LSU, with a score of 4 and 3. This victory is particularly special as Schofill and Stone have known each other since they first met in eighth grade.
Reflecting on her win, Schofill expressed her disbelief, saying, “It’s truly a dream come true. I’m still in shock and it hasn’t fully sunk in yet. Latanna played an amazing match, and it was a joy to walk the fairways together. We both played outstanding golf.”
She continued, “Words cannot describe the emotions I’m feeling right now. It’s such an honor to be able to say that I won this year’s championship.”
Schofill gave credit to her boyfriend, C.J. Easley, a member of the Mississippi men’s golf team, who served as her caddy throughout the tournament. “I am usually quite nervous before teeing off, and I was particularly anxious before the final match. C.J. played a key role in helping me stay calm. He reminded me that regardless of the outcome, I am still the same person and I am loved by my friends and family.”
“Every hole, he would encourage me to focus on the present moment and take it one shot at a time. Without his support, I don’t think I would have achieved this success,” Schofill added.
Schofill secured her lead when Stone struggled with a three-putt on the par-4 15th hole, resulting in a bogey. Schofill then went on to win the next three consecutive holes. Notably, she sunk a remarkable 55-foot birdie putt on the back of the green on the par-3 16th hole. On the par-4 17th hole, she hit a precise 9-iron approach, leaving the ball just a foot away from the hole for a conceded birdie. This gave Schofill a 3-up advantage at the lunch break.
Entering the second half of the match, Schofill said, “Winning those three holes in a row was a significant momentum boost for me. I felt like I had the advantage going into the final 18 holes. Golf is unpredictable, so I had to maintain my composure.”
Stone, a 21-year-old golfer from Riverview, Florida, had an opportunity to reduce Schofill’s lead on the first hole after the lunch break but was unable to convert her birdie putt.
Schofill regained a 3-up lead by paring the next hole while Stone struggled with a bogey. Although Stone birdied the par-4 24th hole, Schofill responded by birdying the following two holes, extending her lead to 4-up.
The next five holes were halved, with Stone birdieing the par-5 32nd hole. Unfortunately, she missed her par putt on the par-4 hole, conceding the match to Schofill.
Stone graciously congratulated Schofill, stating, “We both played fantastic golf, and I am genuinely happy for Megan. I feel like we were both underdogs, so being able to showcase our skills means a lot to me. Even though the outcome wasn’t what I wanted, I am grateful for the opportunity to play and experience this tournament.”
Stone faced physical challenges throughout the match due to a muscle strain she suffered on Friday. Despite the discomfort, she persevered and played from a slight distance behind Schofill on every shot.
Regarding her victory, Schofill not only secured a gold medal and custody of the Robert Cox Trophy, but she also earned exemptions from qualifying for the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open and an invitation to the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur. In addition, she is likely to receive exemptions into three major women’s golf tournaments, including the Chevron Championship, AIG Women’s Open, and Amundi Evian Championship.
Schofill, at the age of 22, is the oldest U.S. Women’s Amateur champion since Marcy Newton in 2000, who also won at the age of 22.
During the stroke play, Schofill finished tied for fifth place with a score of 4-under 136. She was five shots behind the record-breaking performance of Briana Chacon, an Oregon graduate student from Whittier, California. Unfortunately, Chacon lost to Catie Craig, a junior from Western Kentucky University, in the round of 32.
Throughout the tournament, Schofill showcased her exceptional skills, defeating top competitors such as Jackie Rogowicz, Kelly Xu, Caitlin Peirce, Anna Davis, and Rachel Heck. Her coach, Melissa Luellen, praised her exceptional performance, stating, “Megan played better golf than anyone else in the field this week. She displayed a beautiful swing and demonstrated resilience after losing a hole.”
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