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 acknowledges there’s a lot of pressure, but she relishes the spotlight, just as she did in Augusta.
“We were talking about what we did at Augusta and it was just so nice to see how much people value and respect what we did,” Fassi said after having time to reflect on her experience at the tournament and the whirlwind that followed. “It was really rewarding to see all of that because we worked so hard for it. It was nice to do those things. We’re not used to all the interviews. We’re not used to being in the spotlight like we were in New York. It was all just so amazing.”
That amazing post-tournament journey included appearances on Today and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Originally those shows (both properties of NBC, the network that broadcast the Augusta National Women’s Amateur) were going to invite only the winner. But after Kupcho and Fassi’s dynamic performance – including a level of sportsmanship that had the sports world buzzing for days – producers changed their plans. But through it all, and through the final weeks of her college education, Fassi has kept her mind focused.
“It was nice to be in the spotlight and share my love for the game. It was a great opportunity.” – Maria Fassi
“When I was in New York, I was just enjoying that,” Fassi said. “When I was playing at Augusta I was there; when I’m in Arkansas, I focus on school work and the team. … I’m OK with all the craziness around me. I’m just enjoying every little detail and every little moment. And I think it helped me soak in everything at Augusta, then in New York, and now back at school.
“This is what we have to do as golfers, especially since I’m transitioning to professional golf in a few weeks. I’m excited. … It was nice to be in the spotlight and share my love for the game. It was a great opportunity.”
Meanwhile, after Kupcho won in Augusta and retained her No. 1 position in the women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking, she jokingly lamented having to go back to Wake Forest University. But when she returned to Winston-Salem, N.C., the 21-year-old from Westminster, Colo., helped the Demon Deacons to their first ACC title since 2010 while finishing in a tie for 12th individually. Her teammate, Emilia Migliaccio, who also played in Augusta, won the ACC individual title.
Like Fassi, Kupcho will cap her collegiate and amateur career at the NCAA Regionals and possibly the NCAA Championships. She won last year’s NCAA individual title at Karsten Creek in Stillwater, Okla., and will try to become the first woman to win back-to-back NCAA individual crowns.
As their amateur careers wind down over the next few weeks – and their LPGA Tour careers subsequently commence – expect to hear the names Fassi and Kupcho often. Their duel in Augusta likely won’t be their last.