Augusta National Women’s Amateur: Maria Jose Marin and Soomin Oh share opening lead

Low scores marked the opening round of the Augusta National Womens Amateur at Champions Retreat, where Maria Jose Marin and 17-year-old Soomin Oh shared the lead at 7-under 65. Conditions stayed calm and clear, helping many players attack pins. Eight players finished on 67 or better, while 31 of the 72-player field ended under par.

Marin, a 19-year-old from Colombia and last year’s NCAA champion, closed strongly with birdies on the final two holes. Marin ended with an 8-foot birdie putt on the back nine. The start was far better than in 2025, when Marin missed the 36-hole cut and left early.

Augusta National Womens Amateur format and schedule

The second round on Thursday (April 2) is again at Champions Retreat, and the top 30 and ties move on. The final round is set for Saturday at Augusta National. All 72 players still get a competitive round at Augusta National on Friday, before the cut decides who returns for the weekend finish.

Marin said the setback last year changed the approach this week. "I feel like last year... it was a lot of learning, Marin said.There was a lot of tears, and of course this tournament means a lot to me. Not making the cut, it hurt a lot. But I learned that Ive got to stay with my two feet on the ground, that I have to be really patient with my game, that if things are not going my way, I dont have to push it, that I just have to wait for golf to do its thing."

Augusta National Womens Amateur contenders close behind

Asterisk Talley, a 17-year-old from California, sat one stroke back after a 66. Talley was runner-up in the ANWA a year ago. Andrea Revuelta and Vanessa Borovilos also signed for 66. Another cluster at 67 included Meja Örtengren and Amelie Zalsman, a 17-year-old Floridian.

Oh, who was runner-up at the Womens Amateur Asia-Pacific earlier this year, also stayed bogey-free. On the par-5 ninth, Oh faced a 70-foot eagle attempt from the front edge. Oh lagged the putt 4 feet past the hole and made that birdie to join Marin on 65.

Augusta National Womens Amateur eagle highlights Talley round

Talley produced the day’s standout moment by holing a greenside bunker shot for eagle at the par-5 18th. That shot helped Talley make the turn at 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 said.I knew it was going to be pretty fast. I was honestly just trying to get it within 10 feet, and it ended up going in, so it was pretty cool."

Talley later said the back nine lacked chances despite steady play. "I wasnt making many mistakes, but I wasnt doing anything amazing on the back nine, Talley said.I think it was just pretty much just hitting fairways and greens and not getting very close to the hole at all times." Talley finished with eight pars and one birdie on the front.

Augusta National Womens Amateur Stanford players and surprise struggles

Revuelta and Örtengren were part of a strong Stanford presence in the field. Five Stanford players were entered, and four opened with rounds under par. The exception was US Womens Amateur champion Megha Ganne. Ganne began with two double bogeys in the first four holes and fell to a 77.

The event has grown into one of women’s golf’s top amateur tournaments, with added focus on Saturday at Augusta National. Talley also arrived after recent big-stage experience, including a tie for 29th in last week’s Ford Championship on the LPGA. After one round, Marin and Oh set the pace, with a tight group close behind.

With inputs from PTI