AUGUSTA, Ga. — There are a number of golfers who are competing in the Augusta National Women's Amateur for the first time and that includes Louise Rydqvist.
The junior from Sweden has been one of the top players for the fourth-ranked South Carolina women's golf team.
The 2022 runner-up in the Women's Amateur Championship, Rydqvist has five top-12 finishes this season, including a win in the 2023 Annika Intercollegiate, fourth in the 2024 San Diego State Classic and T-5 in the 2023 Mason Rudolph Women's Championship.
Named an Honorable Mention All-American as a sophomore in 2023, Rydqvist has certainly been a part of high-level golf. She knows, though, that competing against the best amateurs in the world at the Augusta National Women's Amateur will provide a quality gauge of what she needs to improve on and how she stacks up against the best amateurs in the world.
Rydqvist had a more than solid round one, shooting a 2-under 70 which is four back of the lead which is held by her South Carolina teammate Hannah Darling. Rydvist is hoping to be among the top 30 golfers after round two so she can compete in the final round at the Augusta National Golf Club on Saturday. All the golfers will be playing a practice round on Friday, but Rydqvist could very well make two trips around the historic course if she has another good day on Thursday in round two of the Augusta National Women's Amateur.