Lopez Ramirez, Horder Look To Win Big at Augusta National Women’s Amateur
April 01, 2024 | Women's Golf
Julia Lopez Ramirez is no stranger to competing in some of golf's most prestigious events.
The junior will add another chapter to her storied and successful career as she competes at the highly-respected Augusta National Women's Amateur golf tournament later this week against some of the top women's amateur golfers in the world. Lopez Ramirez will also have some Bulldog company. Also participating in this year's event will be her MSU teammate, Chiara Horder.
The first two rounds of the four-day contest will take place at Champions Retreat Golf Club, with a practice day and the final round occurring at Augusta National Golf Club — the home of The Masters.
Working around two completely different but equally difficult golf courses is a challenge for anyone, but Lopez Ramirez is embracing it. After playing in the tournament last year, the veteran has an idea of what can be expected once herself and Horder tee off this week.
"The two courses are quite tricky and putting yourself in good position is easier when you already know where to play it," Lopez Ramirez said in a pre-event press conference that featured the top two amateurs in the world – Lopez Ramirez and Ingrid Lindblad. "Knowing pins from last year, and honestly like weather and stuff, I think that makes you prepared to compete the next year."
Lopez Ramirez also expressed how she's looking forward to sharing this year's experience with Horder.
"I think it's really exciting to have one of my teammates join me," Lopez Ramirez said. "Honestly, the only advice I would give her is to take it easy. We know it's a very big tournament for us and it's a very big deal, but if you make it a really big deal for you, then it makes it harder for you to do well on the golf course.
"That's the best advice I could give. She knows how to play golf…We just need to go out there and enjoy it."
For Lopez Ramirez, she earned her spot in the ANWA in back-to-back years with her talent, but she is quick to credit a few Maroon-and-White-clad people who have helped her along the way. The Malaga, Spain, native believes that MSU has played a huge role in helping her reach new heights as a student-athlete while providing her with plenty of love and support.
"Mississippi State has been an awesome thing for me," Lopez Ramirez said. "We have a pretty good environment out here with the team and coaches. All of them make you feel like family and at home and make things peaceful and chill."
She continued:
"You can just do your own thing and practice and also have good competition between coaches and teammates to get the best out of you," Lopez Ramirez explained.
The 2022-2023 SEC Golfer of the Year has competed in hundreds of tournaments to date, ranging from collegiate invitationals to European amateur championships, and has racked up dozens of top-five finishes in the process. To say that she's used to facing tension while competing would be an understatement, but her time with the Bulldogs has helped her become better equipped to handle adversity.
"I feel like we play in quite high-quality golf tournaments in college golf too, so I feel like you just have to do what you normally do and take the pressure out of it or don't put more pressure on yourself when you don't need to," Lopez Ramirez said.
There's a great prize at stake in the ANWA as the winner receives an exemption into the Chevron Championship – one of the LPGA Tour's five major championships. A trip to that tournament would give one rising star the chance to compete on the sport's biggest stage against plenty of incredible professionals.
Lopez Ramirez believes that if she reaches the Chevron Championship, the excitement she will feel by getting a glimpse into what her future could hold will far outweigh any nervousness.
"That's a really cool advantage and opportunity that they offer to us to just play and see yourself up there, see what it is and also have the opportunity to just have a great time," Lopez Ramirez shared. "Because at that point, you've played as an amateur and you just have no pressure as probably the pros have."
As things get going this week, both Lopez Ramirez and Horder are looking to make memories that go beyond the pars and birdies on their scorecards. Lopez Ramirez's first appearance at the Augusta National Women's Amateur showed her how to embrace the opportunity from all aspects, and both she and Horder will undoubtedly make their fellow Bulldogs proud.
"Honestly, I think I learned to just go have fun and enjoy yourself out there," Lopez Ramirez said, "Because being there it can get to you, so I'm so happy to go at it again and try and be out there with the best amateurs in the world."
Players Mentioned
