Demon Deacons Make Return to Augusta National
3/22/2023 10:28:00 AM | Women's Golf
For the third consecutive year, Wake Forest will have at least three Demon Deacons playing in the Augusta National Women's Amateur (ANWA) at the world-renowned Augusta National Golf Club.
Wake Forest has had at least two players play in all four ANWA events, with Jennifer Kupcho winning the inaugural event in 2019 and Emilia Migliaccio taking second after a playoff in 2021. The event was not played in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Since Kupcho's win in 2019, the ANWA has been synonymous with Wake Forest women's golf. Head coach Kim Lewellen and associate head coach Ryan Potter specifically designed their spring schedule around this event, to make sure the players got enough recovery in between the regular season, the ANWA and ACC Championships.
"This is the most exciting time of the year for all of us," Lewellen said. "We've been playing really well and had high finishers in all of our events this year. It's been an exciting time for Wake Forest golf. We've played well as a team and are looking forward to watching what Carolina, Rachel and Emilia will do at Augusta."
After winning a program-record five regular season titles, with the fifth coming on March 12, Wake will have had a full two weeks off from competition so Carolina Chacarra, Rachel Kuehn and Emilia Milgiaccio can prepare for the prestigious event.
"It's just an incredible tournament to be a part of. I've been counting down the days since I've gotten my invite," said veteran Emilia Migliaccio. She has played in all four ANWA events.
"It's one of those tournaments where it doesn't matter how many times you play, you're so excited when you receive that invitation and you're so grateful for it," she continued. "It's kind of like a reward tournament. You're just really happy to be there and be amongst all the best players in the world. They treat us like movie stars."
Rachel Kuehn, a three-time All-American, continued the sentiment ahead of her third appearance in the event.
"It's so special every time," said Kuehn. "It doesn't get old. You learn new things about the golf course every time. The greens are the trickiest part. They're very undulated and very subtle. You learn new ways that putts are going to break every time you play it."
Kuehn finished inside the top 10 at the event in 2022 and is a proud advocate for growing the game, the women's side especially.
"I think it's very special that Augusta has chosen to focus on amateurs to grow the women's game," she said. "There's so many little girls that are seeing this on TV. They can see some representation and see people that aren't that much older than them playing in this incredible event. I think it speaks volumes to what Augusta is trying to do to grow the game."
Carolina Chacarra, a native of Madrid, Spain, and the reigning ACC Freshman of the Year, admires the course and grew up watching the Masters on TV from the other side of the world. She knows the hard work she puts in pays off when she gets her invitation. She will be playing in her third ANWA and hopes to make the cut for the championship round this time around.
"Playing in the ANWA is like a gift for all the hard work we put in throughout the year," she said. "It's a very special place with a lot of history and it's one of the best organized tournaments in amateur golf. It just feels incredible to play that course with that history in a competitive realm. A lot of great players have walked those fairways and played those holes. After growing up watching the Masters, it's just really cool to actually be there playing that course."
Most golfers, especially those on the Wake Forest women's team, expect to win, and play to win. The Deacs have won 17 team titles and two ACC Championships since Lewellen took over the program in 2018. Five different players have won a combined 15 individual titles, including six for Kuehn, four for Migliaccio and two for Chacarra.
"I think that the goal when you show up to any tournament is to try to win," said Kuehn. "Hopefully it'll be one of those weeks that it all comes together. What Jen did and what Emilia did was so special to watch and hopefully, we'll be able to have some success again this year."
Television Broadcast Information
New in 2023, the first and second rounds of the Augusta National Women's Amateur will be broadcast live on Golf Channel (1:30-3:30 p.m. ET) from Champions Retreat Golf Club.
NBC Sports will produce and broadcast three hours (Noon-3 p.m. ET) of live final-round coverage of the event at Augusta National.
Additionally, Golf Channel's "Live From the Masters" will commence on Friday, April 1 at Augusta National to provide coverage of the Augusta National Women's Amateur, the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals and the Masters Tournament.
Wake Forest has had at least two players play in all four ANWA events, with Jennifer Kupcho winning the inaugural event in 2019 and Emilia Migliaccio taking second after a playoff in 2021. The event was not played in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Since Kupcho's win in 2019, the ANWA has been synonymous with Wake Forest women's golf. Head coach Kim Lewellen and associate head coach Ryan Potter specifically designed their spring schedule around this event, to make sure the players got enough recovery in between the regular season, the ANWA and ACC Championships.
"This is the most exciting time of the year for all of us," Lewellen said. "We've been playing really well and had high finishers in all of our events this year. It's been an exciting time for Wake Forest golf. We've played well as a team and are looking forward to watching what Carolina, Rachel and Emilia will do at Augusta."
After winning a program-record five regular season titles, with the fifth coming on March 12, Wake will have had a full two weeks off from competition so Carolina Chacarra, Rachel Kuehn and Emilia Milgiaccio can prepare for the prestigious event.
"It's just an incredible tournament to be a part of. I've been counting down the days since I've gotten my invite," said veteran Emilia Migliaccio. She has played in all four ANWA events.
"It's one of those tournaments where it doesn't matter how many times you play, you're so excited when you receive that invitation and you're so grateful for it," she continued. "It's kind of like a reward tournament. You're just really happy to be there and be amongst all the best players in the world. They treat us like movie stars."
Rachel Kuehn, a three-time All-American, continued the sentiment ahead of her third appearance in the event.
"It's so special every time," said Kuehn. "It doesn't get old. You learn new things about the golf course every time. The greens are the trickiest part. They're very undulated and very subtle. You learn new ways that putts are going to break every time you play it."
Kuehn finished inside the top 10 at the event in 2022 and is a proud advocate for growing the game, the women's side especially.
"I think it's very special that Augusta has chosen to focus on amateurs to grow the women's game," she said. "There's so many little girls that are seeing this on TV. They can see some representation and see people that aren't that much older than them playing in this incredible event. I think it speaks volumes to what Augusta is trying to do to grow the game."
Carolina Chacarra, a native of Madrid, Spain, and the reigning ACC Freshman of the Year, admires the course and grew up watching the Masters on TV from the other side of the world. She knows the hard work she puts in pays off when she gets her invitation. She will be playing in her third ANWA and hopes to make the cut for the championship round this time around.
"Playing in the ANWA is like a gift for all the hard work we put in throughout the year," she said. "It's a very special place with a lot of history and it's one of the best organized tournaments in amateur golf. It just feels incredible to play that course with that history in a competitive realm. A lot of great players have walked those fairways and played those holes. After growing up watching the Masters, it's just really cool to actually be there playing that course."
Most golfers, especially those on the Wake Forest women's team, expect to win, and play to win. The Deacs have won 17 team titles and two ACC Championships since Lewellen took over the program in 2018. Five different players have won a combined 15 individual titles, including six for Kuehn, four for Migliaccio and two for Chacarra.
"I think that the goal when you show up to any tournament is to try to win," said Kuehn. "Hopefully it'll be one of those weeks that it all comes together. What Jen did and what Emilia did was so special to watch and hopefully, we'll be able to have some success again this year."
Television Broadcast Information
New in 2023, the first and second rounds of the Augusta National Women's Amateur will be broadcast live on Golf Channel (1:30-3:30 p.m. ET) from Champions Retreat Golf Club.
NBC Sports will produce and broadcast three hours (Noon-3 p.m. ET) of live final-round coverage of the event at Augusta National.
Additionally, Golf Channel's "Live From the Masters" will commence on Friday, April 1 at Augusta National to provide coverage of the Augusta National Women's Amateur, the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals and the Masters Tournament.
Players Mentioned
Football Media Availability (9/24/25)
Wednesday, September 24
Football Media Availability (9/23/25)
Tuesday, September 23
Wake Forest Football Head Coach Jake Dickert Press Conference (Week 5)
Tuesday, September 23
Coach Jake Dickert Press Conference (Sept. 22, 2025)
Monday, September 22