Round 1 Recap: Three-Way Tie at the Top

The opening round of the 123rd North & South Women’s Amateur delivered a leaderboard as stacked as it is tight. Three players carded 2-under 70s on Pinehurst No. 7 to share the lead entering Monday’s decisive second round: Pimchompoo Chaisilprungruang, Grace Kilcrease, and Ava Merrill.

Chaisilprungruang, the reigning Southwestern Women’s Amateur champion, showed no signs of slowing down, rolling in four birdies and relying on her signature consistency to work around the firm, fast greens.

Oklahoma State’s Grace Kilcrease—one of the breakout players of the 2024 collegiate season—matched her at 70 with a steady back nine. The junior holds the school scoring record (63) and is no stranger to championship pressure, with a win at Pebble Beach earlier this season.

Ava Merrill, a sophomore at Vanderbilt, rounded out the co-leaders. Merrill led the Commodores in scoring average this season (72.09) and has made a name for herself with disciplined ball-striking and top-tier finishes across the SEC and NCAA schedule.

With 10 players within three shots of the lead—including Mackenzie Lee, Megha Ganne, and Madelyn Gamble—Round 2 at Pinehurst No. 4 promises a dramatic cut-line battle for match play qualification.

A Championship with Historic Roots

First played in 1903, the North & South Women’s Amateur is among the oldest and most prestigious championships in women's amateur golf. It has crowned legends including Babe Zaharias, Louise Suggs, Carol Semple Thompson, Danielle Kang, Yani Tseng, and Gabriela Ruffels.

The Courses: Pinehurst No. 2 and No. 4

Match play unfolds entirely on Pinehurst No. 2, Donald Ross’s iconic design known for its domed greens and strategic subtleties. No. 2 has hosted three U.S. Opens and will welcome both the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open in 2029. The stroke play rounds are split with No. 4, a bold, elevated redesign by Gil Hanse that rewards creativity and shot-making.

Stroke Play: Survive and Advance

The pressure of stroke play is real — only 16 players earn the right to compete in match play. Here’s how recent years have played out:

• 2024: Cut at +3 — Medalist: Macy Pate (-6, 136)
• 2023: Cut at +3 — Medalist: Ashley Menne (-5, 139)
• 2022: Cut at +2 — Medalist: Hannah Levi (-7, 137)
• 2021: Cut at +2 — Medalist: Abbey Daniel (-3, 141)
• 2020: Cut at +2 — Co-Medalists: Rachel Heck & Ivy Shepherd (-5, 139)

Two rounds on No. 2 and No. 4 determine whether your week continues. It’s a test of course management, patience, and precision from tee to green. Historically, the cut line has hovered between +2 and +3, reflecting the demanding setup and elite field.

Match Play Brilliance

Match play at Pinehurst produces drama and reveals who can execute under pressure. In 2024, Catie Craig, the No. 3 seed, stormed through the bracket and capped off a dominant week with a 4&3 victory over top-seeded Macy Pate in the championship match.

Craig, a student of golf course architecture at Western Kentucky and a part-time golf course maintenance worker, credited her knowledge of Ross’s subtle slopes and native transitions for helping her manage No. 2. She won her first four holes in the final and never looked back, claiming the Putter Boy trophy in style.

“To be able to play such an iconic course and win in the same year of the U.S. Open – that’s really cool,” said Craig. “And the first time the men and women playing in the same week, it’s a very unique year to win.”

Why It Matters

The North & South Women’s Amateur is one of the seven Elite Amateur Golf Series events and a gateway to the top of the game. With WAGR points, major invites, and a spot on a century-old trophy, the stakes are high.

It’s not just about winning — it’s about belonging to a historic lineage that began with Myra Paterson in 1903 and continues through Danielle Kang, Yani Tseng, and Catie Craig.

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Leaderboard

Live scoring will be embedded here as rounds begin.