LaBrae’s Harford makes cut at Augusta

April 5, 2019 at 12:05a.m.

Furman senior tied

for 11th in Amateur

Augusta, GA.

Haylee Harford will walk the same paths as Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus on Saturday.

The LaBrae graduate will be among the first 30 women to compete in a women’s golf tournament at Augusta National after the senior at Furman shot an even 72 in the second round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur on Thursday at Champions Retreat to finish tied for 11th place. The top 30 golfers advance to the final.

“It just hit me with how special they’ve treated us. It does make us feel like we all are apart of history and how we’ll be able to influence women’s golf and future generations of girls who want to play in this tournament,” Harford said. “It will definitely feel more real when I’m out there and I’m like ‘wow. I’ll be the one being escorted down Magnolia Lane when it’s usually men.”

Augusta National — the course that hosts The Masters — has previously barred women who were not a guest or spouse of a male club member from playing until 2012. This year marks the first time the course is hosting a women’s golf tournament.

Today, Harford will be taken for a practice round by Augusta National’s caddy staff in their trademark white jumpsuits before teeing off Saturday at 9:30 a.m.

Starting on hole No. 10, Harford was 1-under on her first four holes before getting back- to-back bogeys on Nos. 14 and 15. She responded with a birdie on No. 16, a par on No. 17 and a birdie to close out the first half of her round 1-under.

When it was her turn to go through the front nine, she shot even on every hole except No. 6.

“The back nine is tough at Champions Retreat. There can be some tough pin positions and I had myself in some bad spots and was able to get away with bogeys on those two holes. To come back with the birdies on 16 and 18, I knew I was good going into the turn,” Harford said. “I had some good birdie opportunities on the front nine that I couldn’t get, but I still felt like I was solid.”

Harford sits six strokes back of leader Jessica Kupcho of Wake Forest. The final three hours of play will air on NBC sports starting at noon.

“I’m thrilled to be there and I’m trying to enjoy every moment I spend there, but I still have the expectation to go out there and do my best and try and finish in the top 10 at least,” Harford said. “I’m going to go out there, stick to my game plan and try to do well.”