When the 88-player starting field for the 98th Women’s Texas Amateur takes on Bent Tree Country Club from July 16-19, three holes in particular might prove to be more crucial than the rest. One of the three is a hole on which red numbers are nearly mandatory. Making par on the other two will feel like birdies.
The TGA staff recorded all the scores from the 93rd Women’s Texas Amateur in 2014 at Bent Tree, resulting in a detailed numerical account of how each hole played respective to par. We used that data to come up with our “Key Holes” for this year’s championship:
Hole 13: Par 5, 437 yards
2014 Women’s Texas Amateur Rank: 18 (4.813 scoring average)
This dogleg-right par 5 was the only hole to play under par. It should be reachable in two for the majority of the field, and the green is relatively flat compared to others on the course. Par is never a bad score, but not making birdie on this gettable hole will feel like a letdown.
2014 Women’s Texas Amateur Rank: 3 (3.563 scoring average)
From an elevated tee box, the green sits on a peninsula surrounded by water on three sides (front, left and right), with three large bunkers nestled closer in. Hitting the putting surface is just half the battle; the multi-tiered green makes getting down in two a tough proposition. Players will be absolutely delighted to make par here.
2014 Women’s Texas Amateur Rank: 1 (4.750 scoring average)
It was the toughest hole on the course in 2014, and there’s no reason it won’t earn the same distinction again. Water flanks the entire right side of the hole, and two deep fairway bunkers encroach from the left. A precisely struck approach shot is required to hit the narrow green, while avoiding the water on the right and a large deep bunker on the left. Make a four to finish and it’s party time.
