LEXINGTON, Ky. — On Wednesday, which was National Girls and Women in Sports Day, UK Athletics announced that golfers Jensen Castle and Laney Frye accepted invitations to play in the 2023 Augusta National Women’s Amateur in Georgia at the end of March.
Golda Borst, head coach of the women’s golf program at the University of Kentucky, is excited to have two student-athletes on her roster competing in the tournament.
“I’m so proud of them,” said Borst. “To see their dreams come true and for them to compete at this level… and I genuinely believe that either of them can win too.”
Frye, a junior, grew up on a farm in Nicholasville. Her home was also on a golf course where she would see UK golfers practicing—and she knew someday she wanted to be among them.
“It was kind of always a dream to be carrying the bag too,” said Frye.
Her family has always enjoyed the game of golf, and she started playing when she was 7 years old.
“It was kind of just a curiosity at first, but as I got older, I just kept growing love for the game,” said Frye.
She started taking golf more seriously as she got older. Frye attended the Lexington Christian Academy and played on the golf team with her dad leading the team as the coach. Even though he is no longer her coach, and she now plays for a university, Frye still seeks her father’s guidance.
“He jokes and says that I’m smarter than him now in the game, but he’s always there for me and if I ever need to talk to somebody about my golf game… he’s the one,” said Frye.
Playing college golf in her hometown has been made sweeter now that news has spread of her accepting an invitation to compete at the prestigious Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
“Everybody’s just so supportive around here,” said Frye. “It’s really cool.”
While this will be Frye’s first time playing in this competition, Castle, a senior on the team, is returning for a back-to-back appearance.
“That experience was something I will never forget. I mean, who knows what happens this year? But just to be able to say that I got to play in it two years in a row, I mean, that’s really special,” said Castle.
She started going to the golf course with her dad and sister at the young age of 2. Castle recalls her dad getting her candy while out on the course. At 10 years old, she focused more on golf.
“Golf’s just been something I fell in love with,” said Castle. “It became my escape in life at a young age because it’s just you and the golf course.”
That love and her dedication to the sport landed her in the final round of the women’s amateur last year, which is another accomplishment on top of being invited.
The first two rounds of the tournament are played at the Champions Retreat Golf Club. On the third day, a practice round is played at the Augusta National Golf Club—where the Masters Tournament is held every year.
Every participant plays the first three days. In order to play the final round of the competition at Augusta National, the golfers need to be among the top 30 players after the first two rounds.
“Just walking up 18 and realizing that you just played Augusta National in front of this many people...” said Castle. “I see, like, my team behind the green on 18 in all their blue.”
Even though there is a lot of excitement around the two golfers being invited to the women’s amateur, Castle is quick to note that there is a lot to do before then, including playing in college tournaments for the spring season.
They are both focused on being student-athletes for now, but also have big aspirations. Castle double-majored in Marketing Management for her undergraduate degree, which she completed in December, and is now completing a Masters Degree in a marketing program. When they’re done with school, they have goals to go pro.
“LPGA is the dream,” Frye said.
The team is currently getting ready for their first tournament of the 2023 spring season at the UCF Challenge in Orlando. The women will tee off on Sunday for the first day.