Catching up with Musgrove Mill member and collegiate standout Natalie Srinivasan of Furman University.
In South Carolina, Furman University junior Natalie Srinivasan is helping lead the Paladin women’s program to heights it hasn’t enjoyed since future LPGA Tour players Dottie Pepper and Maggie Will led the school to a runner-up finish in the 1987 NCAA Championship. Furman boasts a storied women’s golf history, with Pepper, Betsy King, and Beth Daniel among its decorated alumnae.
Srinivasan, who hails from Spartanburg, S.C., ranks 66th nationally and is second on the Paladin team with a 72.4 stroke average over 11 rounds. She tied for third at both the Cougar Classic and the Lady Paladin Invitational in the fall.
Last season, Srinivasan — the daughter of Musgrove Mill Golf Club members Tammy and Ajai Srinivasan — was named to the Golfweek All-American third team and earned WGCA All-American honorable mention. She was voted the 2018 Southern Conference Player of the Year — as well as being named to the WGCA All-American Scholar Team, the SoCon Academic Honor Roll, and the SoCon All-Academic Team.
Srinivasan led the conference with a 72.36 stroke average over 36 rounds, the second-best stroke average in Furman women’s golf history. She tied the Furman low-round record at the time with a 65 in the opening round of the 2018 NCAA Tallahassee Regional, where she went on to finish third.
After winning league individual medalist honors at the SoCon Championships, Srinivasan was named the 2017 SoCon Freshman of the Year. She also competed in the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open, where she tied for 69th — with her father serving as her caddie.
In January, Srinivasan received a pleasant surprise when she and Furman senior teammate Haylee Harford, along with Paladin alum Alice Chen, were invited to compete in the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur, held April 3 – 6.
“I was lucky to be at home with my family when I opened the invitation, so that was pretty cool,” says Srinivasan. “To be able to play Augusta National and have your scores count — that’s going to be very special.”
“This should be an amazing event that will showcase the best in women’s amateur golf,” says Furman head coach Jeff Hull. “Having three players in the field is special. I am so proud of all of them.”
For the event, an international field of 72 women amateurs will compete over 54 holes of stroke play. A cut will take place after 36 holes, advancing the leading 30 players to the final round at Augusta National Golf Club. In the event of a tie after 54 holes, the winner will be decided by sudden-death playoff.
Provided she remain an amateur, the 2019 Augusta National Women’s Amateur Champion will receive an invitation to the next five Augusta National Women’s Amateurs, the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open, the 2019 Women’s British Open, and any USGA, R&A, and PGA of America amateur championships for which she is eligible for one year.