AUGUSTA, Ga. — Maria Jose Marin from Colombia transitioned from a close contest with Asterisk Talley to a decisive victory on Saturday at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, finishing with a 4-under 68, a win that became more manageable after the 17-year-old Talley faltered on the back nine.
“It means the world to me,” Marin expressed, reflecting on her disappointment from the previous year when she did not make the 36-hole cut to compete in the final round at Augusta National.
Marin, a junior at Arkansas, becomes the third NCAA champion to triumph at the Masters’ venue, following in the footsteps of Jennifer Kupcho and Rose Zhang, with this edition featuring an unexpected turn on the back nine.
Talley, who had a lead of up to three shots early on, recorded her first bogey of the tournament on the challenging par-4 11th, resulting in a tie for the lead with Marin.
Then, things unraveled for her. Talley overshot into a back bunker on the par-3 12th. She aimed for the right pin with a shot that was too powerful, causing the ball to roll off the front, down a slope, and into the water. Talley opted to drop in the bunker, only to repeat the same mistake.
In disbelief, the California teenager took her next penalty drop on the opposite side of the water, pitched to approximately 8 feet, and made that for a quadruple-bogey 7.
Meanwhile, Marin reached the par-5 13th and two-putted for birdie, moving to 14-under par, suddenly five shots clear as Talley attempted to regain her focus.
The final challenge for Marin came from Andrea Revuelta, who birdied Amen Corner to remain in contention. On the par-5 15th, Marin opted to lay up with a four-shot advantage, but her third shot went long, and her fourth shot up the slope reached the front of the green. She faced a 5-foot putt for bogey, while Revuelta had an 8-foot putt for birdie.
Revuelta, who had reached the back collar of the green in two, missed and had to settle for par. Marin converted her bogey putt to maintain a three-shot lead, and the 19-year-old Colombian then hit her tee shot to about 6 feet for birdie on the 16th to secure her victory.
Revuelta finished with a 68 and claimed second place.
Talley recorded a double bogey on the 16thβshe played the par 3s at 6 over on the back nineβand ended with a 75, tying for fourth, six shots behind. Meja Γrtengren from Sweden, who played in the final group with Talley, shot 74.
Marin established a record at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur with a score of 14-under 202. A smile remained on her face as she walked up the 18th green, raising her right hand when she tapped in for par. Among those celebrating with her was Maria Fassi from Mexico, another Arkansas standout who was the runner-up in the inaugural tournament. Marin has cited that moment as a significant inspiration.
Masters chairman Fred Ridley presented the trophy to her in Butler Cabin, and Marin held it high, beaming as she remarked, “It’s so pretty.”
Marin, who began the final round one shot behind, fell three shots back with a bogey on the third hole. That was her last major error until she had secured the tournament. She made several crucial par putts that kept her in contention until Talley faltered.
In addition to winning the NCAA last year, Marin also claimed the Women’s Amateur Latin America title. This achievement qualifies her for three of the LPGA Tour’s majors this year.
