LSU Golf Signee Raegan Denton Off To Great Start In Augusta National Women's Amateur
Raegan Denton plays her shot from the greenside bunker on 18 at Champion's Retreat. Photo courtesy of Augusta National Golf Club.
BATON ROUGE – LSU’s Australian golf signee Raegan Denton put herself in a great spot after one round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur on Wednesday, firing a bogey-free round of 5-under 67.
Denton, 18, making her first appearance in the tournament, posted five birdies over the 6,450-yards par 72 layout of Champions Retreat, in the Augusta suburb of Evans, Georgia, where the first two rounds are contested.
Denton is T6 after the first round, two shots out of the lead held by Maria Jose Marin of Arkansas and Soomin Oh of Korea, who both posted 7-under rounds of 65. Three other golfers – Vanessa Borovilos, Asterisk Talley and Andrea Revuelta – posted 6-under par 66.
“I think I just kept really composed,” Denton said of her round. “I didn’t put too many expectations on myself and didn’t freak out if I had a poor shot or anything. Just sort of tried to focus on what was ahead, and I just think I just kept my cool really well.”
While competing for the title is the key, the first step is making the top 30 and ties that will compete in the final round on Saturday at famed Augusta National. A total of 31 golfers broke par in the first 18 holes, making it highly likely the cut line will be under par for the second straight year.
The native of Adelaide, Australia, who won three consecutive tournaments at the end of 2025 and the start of 2026 including the Women’s Australian Master of the Amateurs in January, is making her first appearance in the ANWA.
Denton birdied both par 5 holes on the first nine holes (the third and ninth holes) and posted a birdie 3 on the par 4 seventh. She then moved to the second nine and posted back-to-back birdies on the par 4 10th and par 3 11th. She then finished with seven pars to conclude her round.
Denton said in the media area that she believed this is her first bogey-free round in a tournament.
Denton was T2 in the field in Greens in Regulation, hitting 16-of-18, while driving in the fairway on 10-of-the-14 non-par 3 holes. She was T8 in the field with five birdies.
Denton also discussed with the media her decision to attend LSU in the fall.
“College golf in Australia has definitely become more popular over the last couple years,” she said. “And it was sort of a pathway that I’d always considered. When I visited LSU, I just sort of fell in love with the campus and the coaches and just sort of everything about it. I loved the feel that I got. It felt like this could be my new home for the next four years.”
LSU sophomore Rocio Tejedo finished her first 18 holes at 4-over par 76 and in a group tied for 59th place.
Tejedo’s third ANWA appearance started well with three birdies on the first six holes, turning at 1-under par but five bogeys over the final nine holes left her in position to need a strong second 18 on Thursday to have a chance to make the cut.
Denton will go off the 10th tee on Thursday at 8:21 a.m. CT, Tejedo is at 8:55 a.m. off the 10th tee as well. Golf Channel television coverage is again scheduled from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. CDT. Live scoring can be found on the ANWAgolf.com web site.