Maria Jose Marin leader in the clubhouse after 2026 ANWA opening round

EVANS — It was a memorable Augusta National Women's Amateur start for Maria Jose Marin. The University of Arkansas star embraced her 10-year-old brother, Emilio, after completing her round on No. 9 (she started on the 10th tee).

"I love him with my whole heart, and I'm really happy that he's here with me," Marin said. She had another reason to be happy on Wednesday at Champions Retreat. The 19-year-old kicked off her fourth ANWA start as the leader in the clubhouse with a bogey-free 65, highlighted by a 31 on the second nine.

The experience in this event played a big factor in her approach this time around. “I think this being my fourth year, I kind of know more about the course, how are the conditions, how it's going to play," she said. "I think I can build a really good strategy around this place, and I think that's what I did, along with my coach and my dad.

We talked about it yesterday a lot, and yeah, they just told me, you know the place, you know what you're doing, just trust yourself, trust your game, and yeah, just be you. ” Barbados native Emily Odwin's ANWA debut is bigger than the results Lost package didn't stop Florida golf's Megan Propeck's ANWA debut Despite that experience, the nerves of playing against a loaded field with a potential Saturday final round at Augusta National Golf Club looming are still ever-present. “I don't think the nerves ever go away," she said.