After last year's nervy start, No. 1 amateur readies for Augusta stage
Oregon star played in the final group in the final round at the ANWA last year with the world No. 1. Now she's the top player.
EVANS, Ga. – Last year, Kiara Romero found herself playing in the final group at the Augusta National Women's Amateur, paired with the No. 1 amateur in the world, defending champion Lottie Woad.
The stage, the pressure, the gallery was unlike anything she'd ever experienced. "There was obviously a lot of excitement," said Romero. "It kind of felt like I had no control over my body and my hands, and everything was moving really fast.
" Romero bogeyed the first hole and parred the gettable par-5 second. She shot 38 on the front nine and ultimately dropped down into a share of seventh after a closing 74. Romero comes into this year's ANWA ranked as the No.
1 amateur in the world, and if she finds herself back in that position on Saturday, she's confident that she'll be able to calm the storm. "I'll just remember to just kind of look around and just, kind of, stay in the moment," said Romero on the eve of the tournament, "and just focus on the shot that's right in front of me. Talk to my sister and look at the fans, talk to the fans.