Arkansas senior golfer Maria Fassi finished runner-up at the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur on Saturday.
Fassi finished the 54-hole tournament at 6-under par, four shots behind defending NCAA champion Jennifer Kupcho of Wake Forest.
Kupcho rallied to win the tournament with an eagle and three birdies in the final six holes. Trailing Fassi by two shots, Kupcho eagled the par-5 13th and finished with a 5-under 67.
"It's amazing what we were able to have out here today," Fassi said. "The ending wasn't what I would have liked. She was hitting great shots. I did all I could. She played a great game and I'm really proud of her."
Kupcho is the first woman to win a tournament at Augusta National, which did not permit female members until 2012. The club announced the tournament last year to promote women’s golf and serve as an appetizer for its biggest event, The Masters, next week.
"Just to play here at Augusta and have that kind of treatment, I think the woman's game is really going to come out stronger," Kupcho said.
"There's no bigger stage than this for amateur golf."
Fassi shot 2-under 70 Saturday, but had crucial bogeys on the par-3 16th and par-4 18th during Kupcho’s charge.
After bogeying the first hole, Fassi had four birdies on the front nine.