Maria Jose Marin and Soomin Oh share the lead at Augusta National Amateur.
EVANS, Ga. — Arkansas junior Maria José Marin concluded her round with birdies on the last two holes Wednesday, finishing with a score of 7-under 65 to tie for the lead with 17-year-old Soomin Oh from South Korea during the opening round characterized by favorable weather and low scores at Champions Retreat in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Asterisk Talley, a 17-year-old from California who was the runner-up in this event last year, made an eagle with a greenside bunker shot on the par-5 18th hole as she turned and recorded a score of 66.
The playing conditions were excellent, and many of the 72-player field took advantage. Eight players finished at 67 or better, while 31 players managed to break par.
Marin, the 19-year-old Colombian who claimed the NCAA title last year, completed her round on the back nine and sank an 8-foot birdie putt, marking a significantly better start compared to the previous year when she did not make the 36-hole cut.
The second round is scheduled for Thursday at Champions Retreat, with the top 30 players and ties advancing to the final round on Saturday at Augusta National. All 72 participants will have the opportunity to play at the Masters venue on Friday.
“I feel like last year … it was a lot of learning,” Marin stated. “There were many tears, and of course this tournament holds great significance for me. Missing the cut was very disappointing. However, I learned that I need to remain grounded, be patient with my game, and understand that if things aren’t going well, I don’t need to force it; I just have to allow golf to unfold.”
Oh, who finished as the runner-up in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific earlier this year, also played without a bogey. She reached the front edge of the green on the par-5 ninth, facing a 70-foot eagle opportunity to take the lead. She skillfully lagged it 4 feet past the hole and made that putt to share the lead.
Andrea Revuelta and Vanessa Borovilos matched Talley with scores of 66. The group at 67 included Meja Örtengren and Amelie Zalsman, the 17-year-old Floridian who won the esteemed South Atlantic Women’s Amateur earlier this year.
Revuelta and Örtengren are among five players from Stanford in the competition, four of whom finished under par. The only exception was U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Megha Ganne, who faced a challenging start with two double bogeys in her first four holes, resulting in a score of 77.
This marks Ganne’s sixth appearance at the ANWA, which has gained recognition as one of the most prestigious amateur events in women’s golf, primarily due to the location of the final round.
Talley first gained national attention in 2024 when she reached the championship match in three USGA events, including the U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Girls Junior. She recently tied for 29th in the Ford Championship on the LPGA.
Her eagle bunker shot propelled her to a front nine score of 31.
“I was honestly just trying to barely get it on the green and let it roll out all the way to the flag,” Talley remarked. “I knew it would be quite fast. I was just aiming to get it within 10 feet, and it ended up going in, which was pretty exciting.”
She concluded the front nine with eight pars and a birdie, finishing just one stroke off the lead, while ensuring she would have a tee time at Augusta National on Saturday.
“I wasn’t making many mistakes, but I wasn’t doing anything remarkable on the back nine,” Talley noted. “I think it was mostly about hitting fairways and greens without getting very close to the hole consistently.”
