On A Roll

As if making a huge impact on the golf world with a memorable runner-up performance at the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur earlier this month weren’t sweet enough – green icing on the enormous cake of Maria Fassi’s amateur career – two weeks later, the 21-year-old University of Arkansas golfer from Pachuca, Mexico, won the Southeastern Conference Championship in Birmingham, Ala.

Fassi, who qualified for the LPGA Tour through the Q-Series last fall but deferred turning pro until after graduation, will embark on her professional career after Arkansas hosts the NCAA Women’s Championships at The Blessings next month. She has nine collegiate victories, including six in a junior season in which she earned the Annika Award as the player of the year.

Both Jennifer Kupcho, the winner of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, and Fassi chose to wait until graduating to turn pro. It’s easy to imagine the excitement that will envelop Fayetteville, Ark., if Fassi’s Razorbacks advance through the NCAA Regionals next week. Fassi ackn...