She May Not Win Today, But Asterisk Talley Just Did What No Other Amateur Has

PACIFIC PALISADES, Ca. — It's probably no coincidence that the only amateurs to survive the arduous test that is Riviera also happen to be five players inside the top-10 in the WAGR (World Amateur Golf Rankings): No. 1 Kiara Romero, this year's NCAA champion Farah O'Keefe, ANWA winner Maria Jose Marin, reigning U.S. Girls’ Junior champion Aphrodite Deng, and Asterisk Talley (No. 7).

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It was quite the moving day for these five rising stars, but it was Talley who made history.

The 17-year-old, who made her USWO debut in 2024 at Lancaster, had a languid start to her third appearance, making the cut right on the number. Then came Saturday, when the teen hit another gear during the third round—only taking 24 putts to complete her round of 66—the lowest score of any amateur in this championship's history.

It was a squeaky clean day for her, walking away with five birdies and not a single bogey on her card.

Obviously, it was a disappointing round yesterday, but after I made it, it was good," Talley. "It was like, can't complain about a weekend tee time at Riv, right? Then I just hit the putting green after. Didn't hit any balls. Just kind of rested. Did what needed work and then today the hole was just so big I couldn't miss.

Per the USGA, this is just the third time in the last 40 years that there are four amateurs among the top 20 at the end of 54 holes of a U.S. Women's Open. This crop of young players join an elite group of names like Michelle Wie, Morgan Pressel, Brittany Lang, and Paige Mackenzie in 2005 and then in 2020 when it was Kaitlyn Papp, Maja Stark, Ingrid Lindblad, and Linn Grant.

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Talley will play alongside 2023 U.S. Women's Open champion Allisen Corpuz for Sunday's final round.

See all live scoring here.