Asterisk Talley goes to Masters course with a 1-shot lead in Augusta National Women’s Amateur

EVANS, Ga. — California teen Asterisk Talley birdied her opening three holes on her way to a 5-under 67 on Thursday, finishing two rounds at Champions Retreat without a bogey to take a one-shot lead into the final round on golf’s brightest stage at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. The final round Saturday is at Augusta National, the first public look at the course ahead of next week’s Masters, and it’s an arena the 17-year-old Talley knows well.

She made a late charge a year ago and shot 68 to finish one shot behind Carla Bernat of Spain. “I think just always have the highest expectations for myself possible,” said Talley, who in 2024 became the first player to be runner-up at three USGA championships. “I think if you don’t set the bar high, then you’re never going to really succeed to your full expectation.

So just trying to go out there and win every week and hopefully getting a good score out there and playing my best golf. ” Talley, the first player to go bogey-free over 36 holes at Champions Retreat since the ANWA began in 2019, was at 11-under 133. She was on the LPGA Tour last week, tying for 29th in the Ford Championship in Phoenix.

“Just playing against such good players, it kind of ups your game a little bit. I think that’s kind of good preparation coming into this week,” Talley said. She led by one shot Stanford sophomore Meja Örtengren of Sweden, the No.