EVANS, Ga. — California teenager Asterisk Talley started strong with birdies on her first three holes, finishing with a 5-under 67 on Thursday. She completed two rounds at Champions Retreat without a single bogey, securing a one-shot advantage heading into the final round of golf’s premier event at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
The concluding round on Saturday will take place at Augusta National, offering the first public glimpse of the course ahead of next week’s Masters, a venue with which the 17-year-old Talley is quite familiar.
Last year, she made a strong finish, shooting a 68 to end just one stroke behind Carla Bernat from Spain.
“I always aim to have the highest expectations for myself,” Talley stated, who in 2024 became the first player to finish as runner-up in three USGA championships. “If you don’t set high standards, you may not achieve your full potential. I’m focused on winning every week and aiming for a strong score while playing my best golf.”
Talley, the first player to complete 36 holes at Champions Retreat without a bogey since the ANWA’s inception in 2019, stands at 11-under 133.
She participated in the LPGA Tour last week, tying for 29th place in the Ford Championship held in Phoenix.
“Competing against such skilled players elevates your game. I believe this serves as good preparation for this week,” Talley remarked.
Trailing her by one shot is Stanford sophomore Meja Γrtengren from Sweden, the No. 5 player in women’s amateur golf, who made an impressive 80-foot eagle putt from off the green at the par-5 third hole and recorded a 67. Also at 134 is Arkansas junior Maria JosΓ© Marin from Colombia, who birdied her final hole for a 69.
Avery Weed from Mississippi State (70) and Stanford sophomore Andrea Revuelta from Spain (72) are five shots back, tied for fourth. Revuelta holds the No. 3 position in the women’s amateur rankings.
The cut for the top 30 players and ties was set at 1-under 133, creating a high-pressure situation for those aiming to compete at Augusta National on Saturday. All participants in the ANWA will practice at Augusta National on Friday.
Among those who did not make the cut was U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Megha Ganne, one of five Stanford players in the tournament this week. She began with a 77 and struggled in the second round, finishing with a 74.
Elia Galitsky from Thailand, a 19-year-old who has placed in the top 10 in her previous two ANWA appearances, birdied three consecutive holes but made par on her par-5 closing hole, finishing with a 70 and missing the cut by one stroke.
Γrtengren has reached the final round in two of the last four years. Last year, she concluded with a 76 at Augusta National, tying for 14th.
“I’ve learned that patience and discipline with your approaches are essential,” the Swede noted. “It can easily slip away if you hit poor shots into the greens, but you can also create many opportunities by targeting the right areas at Augusta. Staying disciplined from the fairway and understanding the good and bad spots will be crucial.”
Marin, the NCAA champion from last year, birdied all four par 5s at Champions Retreat, positioning herself well to potentially add to what has become the most prestigious amateur event in women’s golf.
Marin reached the final round in each of her first two years but was disappointed to miss the cut last year. Now, she returns to the home of the Masters with a chance to claim victory.
“Playing at Augusta National means everything to me,” Marin expressed. “It’s incredible and an opportunity we all receive thanks to this wonderful tournament. I’m looking forward to enjoying it, sharing the experience with my family, friends, and everyone back in Colombia who is supporting me.”
