Alexa Pano Rises To Success

On August 20th, 2023, Alexa Pano celebrated more than just her 19th birthday. Pano secured her first win on the LPGA Tour with a victory at the ISPS HANDA World Invitational in Northern Ireland. Following a three-hole playoff, she became the youngest winner on the LPGA Tour this season.

Pano is no stranger to being the youngest, or first, to accomplish various accolades. While many golfers dream of playing at Augusta National Golf Club, Pano is already a veteran of the course. Fresh off a star turn in Netflix’s “The Short Game,” Pano first arrived in Augusta when she was just nine years old to compete in the inaugural Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals and finished third in the Girls 7-9 division.

Two years later, at age 11, Pano qualified for the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals again, this time winning the Girls 10-11 division. That same year, she became the youngest to compete in an LPGA of Japan Tour event, the 2016 Yonex Ladies Open.

In 2017, at age 12, Pano returned to Augusta National to compete in the National Finals for the third time, becoming the first three-time National Finalist in Drive, Chip and Putt’s history. In her final appearance, she earned another win, becoming the competition’s first two-time National Champion.

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Alexa Pano, competing in the Girls 10-11 age group, reacts to her drive during the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, April 3, 2016.

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Masters Champion Adam Scott stands with Alexa Pano who won the 10-11 Girls First Place Overall during the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, April 3, 2016.

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Alexa Pano competes in the Girls 9U division of the Drive Chip Putt at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday April 6, 2014.

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BROOKLINE, MA - SEPTEMBER 25: First place winner Alexa Pano in the girls 12-13 Overall Competition stands with her medal during a regional round of the Drive, Chip, and Putt Championship at The Country Club on September 25, 2016 in Brookline, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images for DC&P Championship/Getty Images)

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Alexa Pano of the Girls 12-13 division during the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club

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Masters champion Trevor Immelman gives Alexa Pano her trophy for winning the Girls 12-13 division during the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club.

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Alexa Pano during the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, April 2, 2017.

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PONTE VEDRA, FL - SEPTEMBER 12: Overall champion and first place driving and putting winner Alexa Pano of the age 10-11 girls category holds her award during the regional round of the 2015 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship at the TPC Sawgrass Golf Course on September 12, 2015 in Ponte Vedra, Florida. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images for DC&P Championship)

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Alexa Pano during first round of stroke play of the 2016 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball at Streamsong Resort (Streamsong Blue) in Streamsong, Fla. on Saturday, May 21, 2016. (Copyright USGA/Darren Carroll)

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Alexa Pano during preparation for the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals at The River Golf Club on Saturday, April 1, 2017.

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“I’d definitely like to one day make it on the LPGA Tour.... That’s kind of my goal.” said Pano in an interview following her second victory in 2017. Six years later, Pano not only has her LPGA Tour card, but a win.

With three appearances at the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals under her belt before reaching her teenage years, the sky was the limit for Pano, and she thrived, becoming an All-American at the junior level each year from 2017-2021.

At age 14, Pano once again found herself in a familiar situation, returning to Augusta. However, this time it was to compete in the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur where she broke another record as the youngest to compete in the Championship. Not only did she compete among the world’s best female amateurs, that year also marked her first major championship debut during the 2019 US Women’s Open.

For Pano, the journey from Drive, Chip and Putt National Finalist to Augusta National Women’s Amateur contender was a meaningful one, especially with unique history at the course.

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Alexa Pano of the United States plays her stroke from the No. 12 tee during the final round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club, Saturday, April 2, 2022.

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Alexa Pano of the United States walks on the driving range during preparation for the Augusta National Women's Amateur, Monday, April 1, 2019.

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Alexa Pano of the United States stretches on the driving range during preparation for the Augusta National Women's Amateur, Monday, April 1, 2019.

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Alexa Pano of the United States is interviewed during a press conference prior to the start of the Augusta National Women's Amateur, Monday, April 1, 2019.

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Alexa Pano of the United States plays her stroke from the No. 3 tee during Round 1 of the Augusta National Women's Amateur, Wednesday, March 31, 2021.

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Alexa Pano of the United States prior to the Augusta National Women's Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Monday, March 28, 2022.

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Alexa Pano of the United States plays her stroke from the No. 1 tee during a practice round for the Augusta National Women's Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club, Friday, April 1, 2022.

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Alexa Pano of the United States plays her stroke from the No. 5 tee during a practice round prior to the Augusta National Women's Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Tuesday, March 29, 2022.

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Alexa Pano of the United States plays her stroke from the No. 4 tee during the final round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club, Saturday, April 2, 2022.

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Alexa Pano of the United States smiles on the No. 13 hole during the final round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club, Saturday, April 2, 2022.

Kelly Gavin/Kelly Gavin/Augusta National

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Alexa Pano of the United States embraces overall champion Autumn Solesbee of the Girls 7-9 division during the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, April 3, 2022.

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“Just competing at Augusta National in general, because for women, it’s never been done before, and that’s something I’ve always really wanted to accomplish,” Pano mentioned following her 2019 debut at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Pano’s T-12 finish in the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur marked her fifth time playing on property. Following this finish, Pano turned professional, ending her multiyear amateur career, and launching her into the big leagues. As expected, she took the transition in stride and has proven that she is comfortable on the biggest stages.