Princeton University Athletics
Photo by: Sideline Photos, LLC
Catherine Rao Earns Invite To Augusta National Women's Amateur
January 15, 2025 | Women's Golf
Dreams, like azaleas, bloom in Augusta.
For Princeton's Catherine Rao the dreams will blossom April 2-5 after earning an invitation to the Augusta National Women's Amateur.
First played in 2019, the Augusta National Women's Amateur (ANWA) features an international field made up of the top 72 amateur women's golfers in the world. A 54-hole event, the first two rounds are played at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Augusta before the final 18 holes are played at famed Augusta National -- home to The Masters.
"This has been a goal of mine for a long time," said Rao. "I am honored to receive this invitation from Augusta National, it was a dream come true to open that envelope and share that moment with my family. I am thankful to everyone who has helped me reach this moment in my career -- Coach DeSanty and my teammates at Princeton, my team behind me back home including coaches Steve Holmes and Brennan Amirkhizi, and my friends and family who support me in so many ways. I can't wait to get to Augusta."
Â
Rao is currently the 36th-ranked women's amateur golfer in the world in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) and has been ranked as high as No. 33.
She is no stranger to elite-level amateur golf, having reached quarterfinals in match play of the last two U.S. Women's Amateurs. In addition, she reached the quarterfinals in match play at the 2023 British Amateur and advanced to the round of 16 at the British Amateur in 2024. In addition, she represented the US in the 2021 Junior Solheim Cup where she went 2-1.
After missing all of 2023-24 with injury, she returned to Princeton's lineup this fall and to this point has finished no lower than 14th in the three events she has competed in. Her season opened with a win at the Nittany Lion Invitational followed by a runner-up finish at the Princeton Invitational at Springdale. She concluded the fall portion of her season with a 14th place finish at the Stanford Intercollegiate -- one of the toughest fields in the fall slate in college golf.
A third-team Golfweek Magazine Preseason All-American, Rao was the 2023 Ivy League Rookie of the Year and a first-team All-Ivy selection after finishing second at the Ivy League Championship.
Â
Â
For Princeton's Catherine Rao the dreams will blossom April 2-5 after earning an invitation to the Augusta National Women's Amateur.
First played in 2019, the Augusta National Women's Amateur (ANWA) features an international field made up of the top 72 amateur women's golfers in the world. A 54-hole event, the first two rounds are played at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Augusta before the final 18 holes are played at famed Augusta National -- home to The Masters.
"This has been a goal of mine for a long time," said Rao. "I am honored to receive this invitation from Augusta National, it was a dream come true to open that envelope and share that moment with my family. I am thankful to everyone who has helped me reach this moment in my career -- Coach DeSanty and my teammates at Princeton, my team behind me back home including coaches Steve Holmes and Brennan Amirkhizi, and my friends and family who support me in so many ways. I can't wait to get to Augusta."
Â
Rao is currently the 36th-ranked women's amateur golfer in the world in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) and has been ranked as high as No. 33.
She is no stranger to elite-level amateur golf, having reached quarterfinals in match play of the last two U.S. Women's Amateurs. In addition, she reached the quarterfinals in match play at the 2023 British Amateur and advanced to the round of 16 at the British Amateur in 2024. In addition, she represented the US in the 2021 Junior Solheim Cup where she went 2-1.
After missing all of 2023-24 with injury, she returned to Princeton's lineup this fall and to this point has finished no lower than 14th in the three events she has competed in. Her season opened with a win at the Nittany Lion Invitational followed by a runner-up finish at the Princeton Invitational at Springdale. She concluded the fall portion of her season with a 14th place finish at the Stanford Intercollegiate -- one of the toughest fields in the fall slate in college golf.
A third-team Golfweek Magazine Preseason All-American, Rao was the 2023 Ivy League Rookie of the Year and a first-team All-Ivy selection after finishing second at the Ivy League Championship.
Â
Â
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
Thursday, December 18
Tuesday, November 25
Friday, November 21
Tuesday, June 04