FOUR AMATEURS SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE IN FIRST MAJOR OF THE YEAR AT THE CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP 2023
November 21, 2022
Four amateurs of the six who will compete in The Chevron Championship have already booked their places for the first major of the year, at The Club at Carlton Woods, The Woodlands, Texas, April 20-23, 2023.
Earlier this year, The Chevron Championship announced a revision of the championship’s eligibility criteria with the aim of providing amateur golfers greater access to the professional game. The Championship will now offer playing opportunities to the winners of the Women’s Amateur Championship, U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship, Women’s Amateur Latin America Championship, Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the Chevron Silverado Showdown.
Al Williams, Vice President, Corporate Affairs at Chevron commented, “Chevron is proud to provide the next generation of golfers the opportunity to compete against the world’s best and gain exposure on an international stage at The Chevron Championship. Chevron hopes that by adding exemptions for amateur championships around the world to the eligibility criteria, more young, diverse female golfers gain access to the professional game, and we look forward to welcoming them to Houston next year.”
England’s Jess Baker was the first amateur to qualify for The Chevron Championship when she won the Women’s Amateur Championship in June. The 19-year-old holed a tremendous 25-foot putt to reach the match play stages where she went on to beat Sweden’s Louise Rydqvist 4&3 in the final at Hunstanton Golf Club in Norfolk, England. As a result of her victory, Baker made her major debut at the Evian Championship followed by an appearance at the AIG Women’s Open this summer.
Baker said, “I am extremely thrilled to have qualified for next year’s The Chevron Championship. The win in June was such a surreal moment for me and I can’t believe the opportunities it has given me. After making my major debut this summer it has just made me hungry for more and I can’t wait to compete with the world’s best players in Houston next year.”
World No.3 ranked amateur Saki Baba won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship in August to gain the second amateur spot for The Chevron Championship next year. The 17-year-old became the first Japanese player to lift the Robert Cox Trophy in 37 years. Her crushing 11&9 win made her victory the third largest winning margin in Championship history. Baba made her major debut at the U.S. Women’s Open earlier this year, where she made the cut to finish tied 49th.
Baba added, “I can’t wait to participate in next year’s The Chevron Championship for the first time. This year has been really amazing for me, experiencing many new things and winning the US Women’s Amateur. I’m already excited about 2023 and visiting Houston.”
Ting-Hsuan Huang recently won the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship to obtain the third amateur spot for next year’s championship. The 17-year-old from Taiwan carded a closing round of 69 to finish the tournament at 11-under-par and win the championship by two shots. Huang’s best finish in a professional tournament was 2nd place at the 2021 Taiwan Mobile Ladies Open and she will be making her LPGA Tour and major debut at The Chevron Championship next year.
Huang commented, “It’s an incredible feeling to know I will be making my major debut at The Chevron Championship next year. I think it’s great that Chevron is providing these playing opportunities for amateur golfers, and I am excited to compete with the best players in Houston next year”.
Last week, Valentina Rossi won the Women’s Amateur Latin America Championship to secure the fourth qualifier spot for next year’s championship. The Peru native entered the final round at Pillar Golf Club in Buenos Aries, Argentina, four shots behind tournament leader Maria Jose Marin, and went on to card a closing 3-under 69 to claim her first victory of the year. Rossi will make her major debut at The Chevron Championship next April.
Rossi added, “Competing at The Chevron Championship next year will be really special, and I can’t wait to experience this major championship first hand. Winning the Women’s Amateur Latin America Championship is a career highlight for me, and I am extremely grateful to be able to qualify for the first major of the year. It has been such a great year for my game, and I am looking forward to taking this success into next season.”
Annika Sorenstam, three-time winner of The Chevron Championship in 2001, 2002 and 2005 and founder of the Annika Foundation said, “It’s fantastic to see that Valentina Rossi, winner of the Women’s Amateur Latin America Championship will now earn an exemption to the first major of the year. We at the Annika Foundation are thrilled to offer another major championship exemption and are very excited to see The Chevron Championship providing professional playing opportunities for amateur golfers. I have great memories of this historic event and I am excited for the next generation of golfers to experience The Chevron Championship for the first time.”
The final two amateur spots for The Chevron Championship 2023 will be awarded to the winners of next year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur taking place at the end of March and the Chevron Silverado Showdown in April.