NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Two of Vanderbilt’s finest golfers will represent the Black and Gold this week on one of golf’s biggest stages.
Junior Auston Kim and Vandy graduate Abbey Carlson will compete in the second-ever Augusta National Women’s Amateur in Augusta, Georgia, beginning Wednesday.
“This club is very exclusive, and I think it is an awesome door for this wave (of female golfers) to open,” Kim said. “Events like these are taking the first step in making such sports equal for men and women. It’s a pioneering moment, and I can’t see it any other way.”
Kim and Carlson had been penciled in to compete in the 2020 event before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the tournament. One year later, the Commodore duo will be headed to one of the most famous golf courses in the world which until recently had been reserved only for men.
Carlson called the opportunity a special part of recent firsts by women in professional and amateur sports.
“We’ve seen so much progress — we just got to watch Sarah Fuller during football season. That was incredible, especially her being at Vandy,” Carlson said. “I think there is a long way to go in terms of women’s sports. All we can keep doing is pressing forward in trying to make those improvements and do the best we can to be a good example for women’s sports.”
Carlson graduated from Vanderbilt in 2020 with a degree in mechanical engineering. She moved to Huntsville, Alabama, where she’s became a stress analyst for Boeing working with NASA’s space launch system.
A Lake Mary, Florida, native, Carlson was a two-time All-American while at Vanderbilt, represented the United States at the 2019 Palmer Cup, was first team All-SEC as a junior and was named to the SEC All-Freshman team in 2017.
Carlson tries to play as much as she can during the week and weekends and admitted the game is more of a stress-reliever now, while it was a main focus at Vandy. She recently made the trek back to Nashville to play a round with Kim and Vanderbilt sophomore Celina Sattelkau.
She knows, however, that her game now is nowhere near what it was when she was a student-athlete.
“I’m really just going into next week with my expectations low and going to enjoy every moment,” she said. “I still feel like I can play pretty solid golf — just looking forward to enjoying the experience.”
Kim, who recently finished tied for 26th at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic, is on the ANNIKA Award Watch List and played in the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open. The St. Augustine, Florida, native is also a two-time All-American.
Balancing a demanding academic schedule and in the middle of Vanderbilt’s spring season, Kim said she has confidence she’ll be able to focus her thoughts this week on performing her best in Augusta.
“I’m making sure I’m staying healthy, keeping up with schoolwork every single day and practicing,” she said. “I’m definitely excited. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Kim and Carlson will join an international field for 54 holes of stroke play. The field will be cut after 36 holes at the Champions Retreat Golf Club on Wednesday and Thursday, and the final 30 participants will play their final round at Augusta National Golf Club on Saturday.
The entire field will be afforded the opportunity to play a practice round Friday.
The 2021 Augusta National Women’s Amateur Champion will receive an invitation to the next five Augusta National Women’s Amateurs, the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open, the 2021 Women’s British Open and any USGA, R&A and PGA of America amateur championships for which she is eligible for one year.
“It’s an insane opportunity no matter what way you look at it,” Carlson said. “Years back no one ever thought there’d be a women’s event, let alone an amateur event, at Augusta. Getting to be a part of something that no one ever thought would happen is a pretty big deal, and it’s really just an honor to be a part of — especially getting a chance to play against some of the best players in the world.”
— Chad Bishop covers Vanderbilt for VUCommodores.com.
Follow him @MrChadBishop.
