Anika Varma finishes runner-up after a valiant run at the Pacific Northwest Amateur
Anika, another former Delhi golfer and a recent graduate of the University of Oregon, delivered a memorable performance at the Pacific Northwest Women’s Amateur Championship, finishing runner-up after a strong run through one of amateur golf’s most competitive fields.
Her week began with a T-12 finish in the stroke play qualifier, where she posted rounds of 74 and 72 (+2) to comfortably advance to the match play stage. From there, she caught fire.
In the Round of 32, Anika dispatched Zoe Garcia from Oregon 4 & 3, setting the tone for what would become a deep run. Her biggest test came in the Round of 16, where she battled Erin Lee (Canada) over 21 holes in a marathon match that proved her resilience under pressure.
Momentum built from there. In the Quarterfinals, she posted another dominant 4 & 3 win over Berkley Ledesma (Washington). Her Semi Final performance was her most commanding, a 5 & 4 victory over New Zealand’s Darae Chung, which earned her a well-deserved spot in the final.
In the championship match, Anika faced Jazy Roberts of Australia, where the two traded blows in a tightly contested battle. Ultimately, Roberts edged out Anika 2 & 1, bringing an end to a stellar run.
It will be interesting to see where Anika’s career goes from here – will she choose the tough and uncertainty of pro golf or stay content with a robust college and amateur golfing career.
Photo – University of Oregon