Oklahoma State University Athletics
‘A Dream Come True’: Maddison Hinson-Tolchard Reaches Augusta National After Years of Preparation
April 01, 2024 | Cowgirl Golf
With a resume including back-to-back Big 12 Player of the Year honors, First-Team WGCA All-American, Big 12 Individual Champion and stops at the Arnold Palmer Cup and 78th U.S. Women's Open, you would be hard-pressed to find many amateurs with experience comparable to Cowgirl Golf senior Maddison Hinson-Tolchard.
But, even with her host of accolades, one dream has remained unmarked on her checklist – a round at Augusta National.
On Wednesday, Hinson-Tolchard will add a check to that list, and her dream will become realized as she competes at the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur this week (April 3-6).
"It's a dream come true, really," Hinson-Tolchard said. "I've been working hard to put myself in a position where I was able to get the invitation. I'm really looking forward to it."
For the Cowgirl senior, this dream turned into reality embodies more than three years in the making.
Proving Stage
Hinson-Tolchard's dream started in practice.
Joining the Cowgirls following the 2020 fall season, Hinson-Tolchard arrived in Stillwater to a top-10 team filled with three All-Americans and an individual win entering the spring. As a newcomer on the OSU roster, Hinson-Tolchard moved in and out of the team's fixture during the spring slate – but as the clock turned to the postseason – her readiness was evident to head coach Greg Robertson.
After subbing in during the 2021 NCAA Stanford Regional, Hinson-Tolchard played a key cog in the Cowgirls' runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships, tying for 15th individually and going 2-1 in match play. Joining the team midseason, her countless hours on the course paid off, and barring outside tournaments, she's never missed a starting spot since.
One look into practice, and you could find out why.
"When she comes out here, she knows what she needs to get done," Robertson said. "She doesn't mess around. She just gets it. She gets her stuff done, and she does it in a professional way. You try to work with some of the younger players on what to do, and she's somebody that we want them to look to for that."
Now, 106 counting scores, 67 par-or-better rounds and 16 top-10 finishes later, her consistency shows in the scorecard.
Goal In Sight
The Cowgirls were still on winter break when ANWA began sending out its invitations.
Slotting No. 24 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) to begin the calendar year, the Perth, Australia native was fresh off a fall that included two top 10 finishes, a program-low 6-under 64 round at the Schooner Fall Classic, a spot representing Team Australia at the 2023 World Amateur Team Championships and a scoring average of 69.89 across nine rounds.
A scoring average on pace to break the program's single-season scoring average of 70.48 set by Maja Stark in 2020-21.
With four Cowgirls receiving invites to Augusta National in the previous three years, Hinson-Tolchard entered this year's roll-out in prime position to fill Karsten Creek's mailbox.
She worked. She stayed to the course. She delivered.
The invitational was waiting for her in Stillwater.
Site: Augusta National
Three years in the works, Hinson-Tolchard's debut at the ANWA begins Wednesday.
Hinson-Tolchard joins the field of 72 of the top women's amateurs from Wednesday, April 3, to Saturday, April 6, at Championships Retreat Golf Club and Augusta National Golf Club.
With the first 36 holes of play contested on April 3 and 4 on the Island and Buff nines at Champions Retreat Golf Club, the field will play an official practice round on Friday, April 5, at Augusta National.
The final round will take place at Augusta National on Saturday, April 6, featuring the competitors who made the cut. In the event of a tie after 54 holes, the winner will be decided by sudden-death playoff.
As one of 29 newcomers in the field, Hinson-Tolchard is anything but one. In her fourth season in America's Brightest Orange, the senior has compiled a host of collegiate and international accolades that have made her elite-level play undeniable.
"She deserves this, Robertson said. "She's played some great golf over the last three and a half years and has done a lot for us and this program. It's great to see her get rewarded by getting that trip to Augusta."
As Hinson-Tolchard competes at Champions Retreat Golf Club on Wednesday and Thursday and aims to play the final round at Augusta National on Saturday on NBC – the Cowgirls will be ramping up for action at the Match Play at the Jimmie.
They'll also be glued to the clubhouse T.V.
"We're all looking forward to seeing how she does," Robertson said. "Hopefully we'll see her on T.V. and contention next Saturday."
2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur
Wednesday, April 3 - Round 1
Site: Champions Retreat Golf Club
Time (CT): 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Where to Watch: Golf Channel
Thursday, April 4 - Round 2
Site: Champions Retreat Golf Club
Time (CT): 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Where to Watch: Golf Channel
Friday, April 5 - Closed Practice
Site: Augusta National Golf Club
Time (CT): N/A
Where to Watch: N/A
Saturday, April 6 - Final Round
Site: Augusta National Golf Club
Time (CT): 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Where to Watch: NBC
*Start and finish times for live coverage are approximations only.
For more information on the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur, refer to ANWA.
But, even with her host of accolades, one dream has remained unmarked on her checklist – a round at Augusta National.
On Wednesday, Hinson-Tolchard will add a check to that list, and her dream will become realized as she competes at the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur this week (April 3-6).
"It's a dream come true, really," Hinson-Tolchard said. "I've been working hard to put myself in a position where I was able to get the invitation. I'm really looking forward to it."
For the Cowgirl senior, this dream turned into reality embodies more than three years in the making.
Proving Stage
Hinson-Tolchard's dream started in practice.
Joining the Cowgirls following the 2020 fall season, Hinson-Tolchard arrived in Stillwater to a top-10 team filled with three All-Americans and an individual win entering the spring. As a newcomer on the OSU roster, Hinson-Tolchard moved in and out of the team's fixture during the spring slate – but as the clock turned to the postseason – her readiness was evident to head coach Greg Robertson.
After subbing in during the 2021 NCAA Stanford Regional, Hinson-Tolchard played a key cog in the Cowgirls' runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships, tying for 15th individually and going 2-1 in match play. Joining the team midseason, her countless hours on the course paid off, and barring outside tournaments, she's never missed a starting spot since.
One look into practice, and you could find out why.
"When she comes out here, she knows what she needs to get done," Robertson said. "She doesn't mess around. She just gets it. She gets her stuff done, and she does it in a professional way. You try to work with some of the younger players on what to do, and she's somebody that we want them to look to for that."
Now, 106 counting scores, 67 par-or-better rounds and 16 top-10 finishes later, her consistency shows in the scorecard.
Goal In Sight
The Cowgirls were still on winter break when ANWA began sending out its invitations.
Slotting No. 24 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) to begin the calendar year, the Perth, Australia native was fresh off a fall that included two top 10 finishes, a program-low 6-under 64 round at the Schooner Fall Classic, a spot representing Team Australia at the 2023 World Amateur Team Championships and a scoring average of 69.89 across nine rounds.
A scoring average on pace to break the program's single-season scoring average of 70.48 set by Maja Stark in 2020-21.
With four Cowgirls receiving invites to Augusta National in the previous three years, Hinson-Tolchard entered this year's roll-out in prime position to fill Karsten Creek's mailbox.
She worked. She stayed to the course. She delivered.
The invitational was waiting for her in Stillwater.
Site: Augusta National
Three years in the works, Hinson-Tolchard's debut at the ANWA begins Wednesday.
Hinson-Tolchard joins the field of 72 of the top women's amateurs from Wednesday, April 3, to Saturday, April 6, at Championships Retreat Golf Club and Augusta National Golf Club.
With the first 36 holes of play contested on April 3 and 4 on the Island and Buff nines at Champions Retreat Golf Club, the field will play an official practice round on Friday, April 5, at Augusta National.
The final round will take place at Augusta National on Saturday, April 6, featuring the competitors who made the cut. In the event of a tie after 54 holes, the winner will be decided by sudden-death playoff.
As one of 29 newcomers in the field, Hinson-Tolchard is anything but one. In her fourth season in America's Brightest Orange, the senior has compiled a host of collegiate and international accolades that have made her elite-level play undeniable.
"She deserves this, Robertson said. "She's played some great golf over the last three and a half years and has done a lot for us and this program. It's great to see her get rewarded by getting that trip to Augusta."
As Hinson-Tolchard competes at Champions Retreat Golf Club on Wednesday and Thursday and aims to play the final round at Augusta National on Saturday on NBC – the Cowgirls will be ramping up for action at the Match Play at the Jimmie.
They'll also be glued to the clubhouse T.V.
"We're all looking forward to seeing how she does," Robertson said. "Hopefully we'll see her on T.V. and contention next Saturday."
2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur
Wednesday, April 3 - Round 1
Site: Champions Retreat Golf Club
Time (CT): 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Where to Watch: Golf Channel
Thursday, April 4 - Round 2
Site: Champions Retreat Golf Club
Time (CT): 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Where to Watch: Golf Channel
Friday, April 5 - Closed Practice
Site: Augusta National Golf Club
Time (CT): N/A
Where to Watch: N/A
Saturday, April 6 - Final Round
Site: Augusta National Golf Club
Time (CT): 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Where to Watch: NBC
*Start and finish times for live coverage are approximations only.
For more information on the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur, refer to ANWA.
Players Mentioned
/ Cowgirl Golf
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