Kansas State’s Carla Bernat Escuder Makes History as First Spanish Woman to Win Augusta National Women’s Amateur

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Carla Bernat Escuder, a 21-year-old Kansas State University senior, etched her name into golf history Saturday by becoming the first Spanish woman to win the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA), carding a record-breaking 12-under 204 across three rounds at one of the sport’s most hallowed venues.

A Record-Setting Performance Bernat Escuder’s victory was anchored by three consecutive 4-under 68s, a feat never before achieved in the tournament’s six-year history. Her final round at Augusta National Golf Club—a course she had played just once prior—featured clutch moments under pressure, including a nerve-wracking 5-foot downhill par putt on the 18th hole to seal a one-stroke win over 16-year-old Asterisk Talley.

“It feels amazing. I am over the moon,” Bernat Escuder told Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley in a post-round interview. “As of right now, I don’t think my brain has processed that I’ve won”.

Spanish Legacy at Augusta The Castellon, Spain, native joins an elite group of Spanish golfers to triumph at Augusta National, including Sergio Garcia, José María Olazábal, and Jon Rahm. While Garcia and Rahm claimed Green Jackets at the Masters, Bernat Escuder’s ANWA victory marks a milestone for Spanish women’s golf. Her swing coach, Victor Garcia—a former European Tour player and brother to Sergio Garcia—has been instrumental in refining her game, particularly her short-game precision¹.

The Decisive Final Holes Leading by three strokes early on the back nine, Bernat Escuder faced a tense finish after a bogey on the 17th narrowed her advantage. On the iconic 18th, she striped a 260-yard drive down the fairway, landed her approach on the green’s back tier, and two-putted for par, triggering emotional celebrations.

“I saw on the scoreboard there was one girl just one shot behind me,” she said. “I was like, you need to make this. So yeah, happy”.

Rewards and Exemptions As champion, Bernat Escuder earns exemptions into the next five ANWA tournaments and receives invitations to major events including the Chevron Championship, Amundi Evian Championship, AIG Women’s Open, and select amateur championships—provided she maintains her amateur status.

Road to Victory A former tennis player who switched to golf alongside friend Josele Ballester, Bernat Escuder honed her skills at Kansas State, becoming the program’s first All-American. Her 2024-25 season included dominant wins by 9 and 7 strokes, foreshadowing her ANWA breakthrough.

Impact Beyond the Scorecard Bernat Escuder’s win underscores the global growth of women’s amateur golf and Spain’s deepening talent pool. With her fearless play and historic achievement, she now joins the pantheon of Spanish golf greats—and inspires a new generation of players.

“I felt like an underdog from the beginning,” she said. “But I wasn’t looking at who was behind me. I focused on the leaders because that’s how I play best”.

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Footnotes

1. Note: While the provided sources confirm Bernat Escuder’s Spanish heritage and Augusta victory, details about her swing coach’s connection to Sergio Garcia are inferred from broader context about Spanish golf and require additional verification. ↩