Kary Hollenbaugh has been working on picking smarter targets. It’s been a key focus as Ohio State head coach Lisa Strom tries to rein in the ultra-aggressive Buckeye.
That doesn’t mean Hollenbaugh is afraid to take on pins; she’s just more selective now.
The results speak for themselves.
Hollenbaugh kicked off the year with a solo third at the Patriot All-America before winning the Sally, a prestigious amateur event. She’s since won three more times in four college starts, including against a loaded field at the Therese Hession Regional Challenge and most recently at the Clemson Invitational.
After rising to a career-best 22nd in the World Amateur Golf Ranking on Wednesday, Hollenbaugh continued her hot streak with a 2-under 70 at Champions Retreat in her Augusta National Women’s Amateur debut round.
But this wasn’t her first time at this tournament.
When Hollenbaugh was 14 years old, her dad, Paul, took her to the inaugural ANWA in 2019. A family friend hooked them up with a ticket, though Paul had to scalp his after learning it was originally just one. That final round, the Hollenbaughs followed the last six holes of Jennifer Kupcho’s epic duel with Maria Fassi.
“Honestly, the way that they interacted with each other, like they’re kind of rooting for each other,” Hollenbaugh said about what she took away from that day. “And it was really cool to see at the end how Maria Fassi just kind of praised Jennifer Kupcho. Like if you’re going to lose, you want someone to win it, you know. I think that Jennifer Kupcho did that.”
During Monday night’s dinner for the players inside Augusta National’s clubhouse, highlights from that first ANWA were played.
“It brought back so many good memories of me as a kid wishing to be here,” Hollenbaugh said. “So, it’s cool to see it come full circle.”
