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USA Today
02-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
This college player recorded her second ace in the span of five days at ANWA
This college player recorded her second ace in the span of five days at ANWA EVANS, Ga. — Mackenzie Lee told her caddie on the fifth hole after a birdie at the Augusta National Women's Amateur that her only goal for the day was to finish under par. She then stepped up to the next tee and promptly recorded an ace, though she didn't actually see it. "One of the caddies was like, I think that's in, "said SMU's Lee. "I'm like no. I'm like no way. I literally just had one last week, like you're lying to me." Lee, 21, actually aced her first hole of the day in Round 2 of the Clemson Invitational on March 29. She started out the round on the seventh hole in the shotgun start and, after a 20-minute ride, knocked it in from 160 yards. Wednesday's ace in the opening round of the ANWA was her second in the span of five days, her fourth in competition and seventh overall. Lee shot 4-under 68 to kick off her first ANWA and trails Stanford's Megha Ganne by five shots. The Little Rock, Arkansas, product has five top-six finishes this season at SMU, including a trio of third-place finishes at the Chevron Collegiate, Briars Creek Invitational and Charles Schwab Women's Spring Invitational in 2025. She's been trying to get into this field since she watched Jennifer Kupcho and Maria Fassi duel at the inaugural event in 2019, calling it iconic. The outgoing Lee said she's feeding off the elevated atmosphere this week. "The crowds, the cameras, like for me, it's very exciting," said Lee, beaming. "I was thriving in it. I'm like, yes, cameras!"
USA Today
12-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
College golf's No. 1 player has the most relatable Augusta National story
College golf's No. 1 player has the most relatable Augusta National story The first time Mirabel Ting played a competitive round at Augusta National, she took one look at the thousands of patrons gathered around the first tee and went straight to the washroom and started crying. 'I was afraid I didn't know what I was doing,' said Ting, who texted her friend Michelle Koh asking for support. Koh rushed to the bathroom. To get through that opening tee shot, Ting blacked out everything she could to the point that she could barely see the ball, relying on muscle memory to place one in the fairway. 'It's just like repetition,' said Ting, 'we do all the stuff, all over again, every single day. I think that's how my feel was there.' Ting shot 74 in the final round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur last spring to take a share of eighth while her Florida State teammate, Lottie Woad, took home the trophy. The 19-year-old Ting, currently No. 1 in the college rankings and No. 3 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, returns to Augusta National next month as one of the hottest players in college golf. 'I'll be playing with her, and I'm just like, I feel like she's not gonna miss a shot,' said Woad, the current WAGR No. 1. Malaysia's Ting won her fourth title in five starts on Tuesday at the rain-shortened Briars Creek Invitational with rounds of 67-66. She's 34 under par in five starts this season, with nine of 13 rounds in the 60s. Only USC's Jasmine Koo has matched her with four titles this season. FSU head coach Amy Bond believes Ting hasn't even begun to reach her potential. Last October, Ting traveled back home to Malaysia to make her LPGA debut at the Maybank Championship, marking a rare chance to play in front of a home crowd. After opening with a 67, Ting ultimately took a share of 12th. 'What I noticed was people were screaming her name and she was throwing her gloves,' said Bond. 'She came back with virtually nothing because she gave everything away. 'But I think it was really good for her to know that, you know, a lot of people know who she is and appreciate what she's doing. And I think that's big for any female. It gives you a little bit of self-confidence.' Over the Christmas holidays, Ting flew to Thailand to begin working with Kris Assawapimonporn, Jeeno Thitikul's longtime instructor. Already known for her exceptional ball-striking, the pair spent most of their time on putting – everything from set-up, to speed to green reading. The added confidence was immediate. Ting's collegiate journey actually began in Augusta, Georgia, when, at age 16, she enrolled as a freshman at Augusta University. Her father, Thomas, believed she was mature enough to handle all that comes with moving across the world to chase a dream. No one could've imagined just how tough it would be, however, as Thomas died from a massive heart attack not long after Mirabel arrived on campus. A devastated Mirabel went home to grieve for some time and returned to competitive golf in the spring, leading Augusta to its first NCAA Championship appearance. She then transferred to Florida State, where every day at practice she's pushed by the No. 1 amateur in the world. Bond said the way her top two players go about practice is night and day. 'Lottie loves the process of practice and will spend all day out there,' said Bond. 'Mirabel wants to get it done quickly and precisely, like really quick. For Mirabel, there's a lot of talent there, so she can get away with maybe not spending the hours, and that's not her. She's not the kind of person that needs to spend all day there. But if she can be really structured in the time period that she's there, three or four hours, she can get she feels confident enough to be able to play, whereas Lottie just loves every minute of practice and the process and bless her for it. She's the hardest worker we've ever had and loves it. But that's why she's so good, too.' Ting looks forward to soon reuniting with Koh, the former Campbell University player she considers a sister, in Augusta. Winning the ANWA, she said, would be life changing. But the goal is to keep things simple. 'No expectation to win,' said Ting. 'Just want to enjoy having my sister around and play my golf and just see where it takes me.'
