AUGUSTA, Ga. – Auburn redshirt sophomore Casey Weidenfeld carded a 2-under 70 in the final round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur at historic Augusta National Golf Club on Saturday. Her 54-hole total of 214 (-2) resulted in a tie for fifth place finish in her first time competing in the prestigious tournament.
Weidenfeld's round was highlighted by three consecutive close approaches that led to birdies on holes No. 13, No. 14 and No. 15 at Augusta National. Her finish marks the highest by an Auburn golfer at the event behind only Anna Davis, who won the tournament in 2022 prior to joining the Tigers.
"As my first time here, I was a little nervous the first few holes," Weidenfeld said after the round. "I got a little jittery with the driver, but coming down the stretch I relaxed and got it together a little bit.
"Going in, I just wanted to see if I could make the cut and have a few good rounds. Then today was more about having fun. Seeing all the crowds today was really cool. I didn't realize there were that many people to came to this event, so that was awesome to see."
The Pembroke Pines, Florida native's round was off to an ideal start, with a birdie after an impressive putt on the first hole. Weidenfeld made the turn at 1-over par, but her back nine was one to remember.
Weidenfeld carded a birdie on No. 10 for her third of the day, then recorded a couple of pars including a crucial sand save on the 12th hole. The redshirt sophomore began her string of birdies with an approach that appeared to be within five feet on the par-5 13th hole.
.@AuburnWGolf's Casey Weidenfeld plays a fantastic approach over Rae's Creek on No. 13 at Augusta National. 🤌
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) April 6, 2024
📺: NBC & @peacock | #ANWAgolf pic.twitter.com/prKww08qz1
On the 14th hole, Weidenfeld nearly holed her approach shot on one bounce, which triggered an animated reaction from the patrons behind the green, before it settled directly behind the hole for a tap-in birdie.
Can't get much closer 👀
— Augusta National Women's Amateur (@anwagolf) April 6, 2024
An amazing approach from Casey Weidenfeld!#ANWAgolf | @AuburnWGolf pic.twitter.com/3wS3DRRWz0
The 2023 SEC All-Freshman selection stayed dialed in on the following hole, with an incredible third shot over water on the par-5 15th hole that resulted in another short birdie putt and her sixth birdie of the day.
"I hit a great shot on all three of them, especially on 14," Weidenfeld said about the three-hole stretch. "I thought I had a two with the way they reacted. I was like, 'I definitely just got an eagle'. But it was really good."
Weidenfeld ultimately finished the round with a bogey on her final hole of the day to close the event at 2-under (214). Her mark of six birdies on Saturday was tied for the most in the field and she was one of just nine players to post a final round under par.