AUGUSTA, GA.. -- Furman's Haylee Harford (E) tied for seventh, while Natalie Srinivasan (+3) tied for 17th Saturday in the final round of the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club.
Harford, a senior from Leavittsburg, Ohio, birdied No. 7 and made the turn at one-under. She recorded consecutive birdies on No. 12 and No. 13 then made a final birdie on No. 18, carding a one-under 71 in Saturday's round.
"This tournament was one of the greatest experiences of my life," said Harford at the conclusion of Saturday's play. "When I made the birdie putt on No. 18, I turned around and saw the crowd cheering and just tried to take it all in."
After a bogey on No. 1, Srinivasan, a junior from Spartanburg, S.C., parred her next 17 holes for a one-over 73.
"I was a little nervous, but more excited with everyone around the tee on No. 1," said Srinivasan. "I settled down the rest of the round and, overall, I had a great experience."
Furman alum Alice Chen (+9), who competed in the tournament's first two rounds, tied for 52nd.
Jennifer Kupcho (-10) of Wake Forest won individual medalist honors by four strokes after tallying rounds of 68-71-67=206. Provided she remain an amateur, Kupcho, the 2019 Augusta National Women's Amateur Champion, will receive an invitation to the next five Augusta National Women's Amateurs, the 2019 U.S. Women's Open, the 2019 Women's British Open, and any USGA, R&A and PGA of America amateur championships for which she is eligible for one year.
An international field of 72 women amateurs competed over 54 holes of stroke play. The first 36 holes were contested Wednesday and Thursday on the Island and Bluff nines at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. A cut took place after Thursday's round, advancing the leading 30 players to Saturday's final round. The entire field played Augusta National for an official practice round on Friday.
Harford ranks 32nd nationally with a Paladin-best 72.5 stroke average over 23 rounds. She recorded three top-8 finishes in four fall tournaments and won individual medalist honors with a score of nine-under at the Lady Paladin Invitational in September. She has been named to the 2019 Arnold Palmer Cup Team.
Harford, who earned a WGCA All-American second team citation in 2017, was selected to the Golfweek All-America third team as a sophomore then earned All-American honorable mention accolades from the publication as a junior. She finished the 2017-18 season ranked 53rd nationally after placing second in the SoCon with a 73.03 stroke average over 36 rounds. Harford, who finished among the top 10 individuals in five tournaments and among the top 20 in seven of 11 tournaments last season, earned her third-consecutive all-conference award in 2018.
Srinivasan ranks 36th nationally and is second on the Paladin team with a 72.7 stroke average over 23 rounds. She tied for third at both the Cougar Classic and the Lady Paladin Invitational in the fall and tied for fourth at the Briar's Creek Invitational in March.
Srinivasan, who competed in the 2017 U.S. Women's Open, earned a WGCA All-America honorable mention citation and claimed Golfweek third team All-America honors during her sophomore campaign in 2017-18. She tied the Furman low-round record at the time with a 65 in the opening round of the 2018 NCAA Tallahassee Regional, where she went on to finish third. The 2018 Southern Conference Player of the Year, Srinivasan concluded the season ranked 26th nationally after leading Furman with a 72.36 stroke average over 36 rounds last year, the second-best single season stroke average ever for a Paladin women's golfer.
The recipient of the 2018 Dinah Shore Trophy, Chen became only the tenth four-time all-conference honoree in the history of the Southern Conference following her selection in 2018. She was just the second player in league history to finish among the top three individual four times at the SoCon Championship, which dates back to 1994.
Chen led the Paladins at the 2018 NCAA Championship, where she tied for 21st. During her senior campaign, she won individual medalist honors at the Moon Golf Invitational, tied for third at the SoCon Championships, and placed among the top ten in four of 12 tournaments. She was chosen the 2016 SoCon Co-Player of the Year and the 2015 SoCon Freshman of the Year, then she teamed with former Furman golfer Taylor Totland to win the 2017 U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball Championship