Augusta National Women’s Amateur golfer plays for a bigger purpose

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The bags at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur have their own personality.

But one stands out when it’s made to blend in.

Rachel Heck is playing in her fourth tournament. However, it’s her first spotting the colors she’s worked toward for the last four years.

“I did ROTC all throughout college, started ROTC my freshman year, and then commissioned as a second lieutenant last June,” said Heck. “I’ve been in the reserves since then.”

She may be one of eight golfers from Stanford playing, but her team outside of her 9 to 5 is the stars and stripes.

“Golf is so individual, and I really wanted something that was a total opposite,” said Heck. “I wanted to be a small part of something so much bigger.”

It’s the first event she’s been able to play as an officer.

“I had a lot of military folks, you know, yelling, ‘go Air Force, go Army, go whatever,’” said Heck. “There was actually a girl who’s an ROTC cadet at Alabama, I met her today, she drove to watch me play, and it’s just so cool to have that support.”

On the course or off it, it’ll always be a game of perspective.

“It’s just, you know, when things are tough out there, when I get frustrated, I remember what I’m a part of,” said Heck.

This is Heck’s final Augusta National Women’s Amateur Tournament.

It’s hard not to think of them as anything but competitive golfers, but when you hear some of their stories, it makes you appreciate everything it took for them to get to this moment.

Winning the tournament is at the top of the list for everyone in this field, but at the end of the day, this has got to be one of the biggest highlights of each of their young careers.

It’s only going to get better from here.

The third and final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur will take place Saturday at Augusta National Golf Club.

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