The 18-year-old lit up the opening round of the Women’s Australian Open on Thursday with a stunning hole-in-one on the 7th hole (her 16th) at Kooyonga Golf Club - a moment which perfectly punctuated what is already shaping as a career-defining three-week stretch.

Still coming to terms with the ace, Denton could only laugh at the surreal timing.

“I don't think there's any chance of me forgetting this anytime soon,” she said.

“As much as my scoring wasn't as good as I'd hoped it would be today, it's still so fun to be in this environment and I had so many people out there that I knew watching, which was just really awesome. And to have such a big crowd on that hole-in-one is awesome, as I've never had one in a tournament before.”

The highlight came just weeks before Denton embarks on one of amateur golf’s most coveted journeys - competing in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at the revered Augusta National Golf Club.

Yet Denton has a remarkable confession for someone about to tee it up at one of the sport’s most sacred venues.

“I have never watched the Masters before,” she laughed.

“I am probably the least golf fanatic you’ll ever meet. I don’t like watching golf - it is so boring. I prefer to play and just leave it at that.”

Denton secured her place at Augusta after an extraordinary summer, featuring six top-four finishes across seven consecutive events, a run that vaulted her to a career-high 37th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

PLUS...

Bennett claims biggest win at Australian Women's Classic

Kelsey Bennett has claimed the most significant win of her young career, with the New South Wales local triumphing at the Australian Women’s Classic on International Women’s Day at Magenta Shores Golf & Country Club.

Established in 2019, the first two rounds of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur are played at Champions Retreat Golf Club, before the top 30 and ties advance to the final round at Augusta National on the Saturday before The Masters.

But Denton admits the famed landmarks of Magnolia Lane, Amen Corner and Butler Cabin remain largely a mystery.

She may yet do some last-minute study of the iconic layout, but admits she will be leaning on others to help fill the knowledge gap.

“I think I’ll have to do a little bit of homework before I go,” she said.

“One of my friends, Zoe, knows that course like the back of her hand. She said she’ll be my yardage book and stay in my back pocket, so that will help.”

Fortunately, Denton will also have SA Golf’s high-performance boss, Adrian Wickstein, alongside her as caddie - someone she suspects has already done plenty of the necessary research.

“If anyone’s a bit of a golf nerd, I think he’s one of them,” she said.

“I think he knows enough for the both of us.”

Denton departs for the United States on March 24, planning to settle in Florida at Golf Australia’s U.S base in Jacksonville, before heading to Augusta days later ahead of the tournament beginning on April 1.

“I don’t think it’ll ever not be a pinch-me moment,” she said.

“No matter how many times I get to go back, which hopefully I do, it’s just such an unreal experience and such a privilege.”

Before that dream becomes reality, however, the Royal Adelaide member has an important week closer to home at Kooyonga.

Denton signed for a 3-over 75, highlighted by her ace, and will enjoy feature group status alongside Australian Women’s Classic winner Kelsey Bennett and New Zealander Momoka Kobori on Friday afternoon.

For Denton, the Open represents another step in a whirlwind which that has seen her represent Australia internationally while increasingly testing herself in professional environments.

“I think there’s always going to be nerves,” Denton said. “But that’s a good sign.

“It’s going to be such a great opportunity and probably one where I need to be a little bit more aware than usual - just to soak it all in. There will be a lot of learning experiences I haven’t had before.”

Despite the inevitable nerves of a major professional event, Denton believes the past 12 months have prepared her well.

Her breakout run included wins at the NextGen Amateur Tour World Final, Port Phillip Open, Victorian Amateur and Master of the Amateurs, before backing it up with a T4 finish at the Vic Open against the professionals in January.

“All of these experiences are ways to learn,” she said.

“You’re learning something new every week and hopefully you can take what you’ve learned from previous weeks into the next event.

“A big thing has just been learning how to manage a busy schedule and navigating a professional event - it’s a very different environment.”