Chowchilla’s Asterisk Talley continues to be a force in golf after her most recent victory at the U.S. Women’s Amateur.
At the 125th annual Women’s Amateur in Tennessee, Talley played some of her best golf at The Honors Course on Ooltewah, Tennessee to thoroughly dominate top seed Anna Iwanaga of Japan 8 and 6 (eight holes up with six to play) in match play. The third seeded Talley recorded just one bogey in 36 holes Sunday.
Talley burst onto the United States Golf Association scene by getting within two strokes of the lead at the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open in 2024. Since then, Talley has been staking her claim as the best amateur golfer in the world.
She was the runner up in 2024 at the U.S. Amateur and just missed winning the August Women’s National Amateur.
Already a USGA champion by winning the 2024 U.S. Amateur Four Ball, Talley, with her dad, Jim, on the bag finally got the title she coveted.
“This pretty much completes my amateur career,” said Talley. “This is one of the biggest events to ever win, so I think this is going to be the top of my list from now on.”
Talley became the first runner-up to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur since 2008.
In amateur competition, it’s two 18 holes of match play. Basically, it’s mano y mano. After the first round, Talley shot a six-under with seven birdies while Iwanaga was three-under.
After a lunch break, Talley extended her lead on the 19th hole, but then a stone came through to halt play for a little more than an hour.
Talley won two more holes, and then chipped in for a birdie to go 7 up with seven holes to play.
She tapped in to defeat Iwanaga on the 26th hole, the 108th hole of six rounds of match play. That’s tied for the fifth fewest holes needed in championship history, and five off the record.
“I don’t know. I just think it’s a lot of fun,” Talley said of her success in match play. “I think the elements are really good. I mean, when you only have to play against one player and you’re playing the same conditions the whole time you don’t really have to worry about anyone else. I think it’s better to stay in the moment.”
With the win, Talley receives the JoAnne Carner Medal and custody of the Robert Cox Trophy for a year. She received an exemption to the next 10 U.S. Amateur Championships and an exemption into the 2027 U.S. Open presented by Ally at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio. She is also likely to receive another invitation to the 2027 August Women’s National, and likely exemptions into the 2027 Chevron Championship, Amundi Evian Championship and the AIG Women’s Open. Her name will be engraved on the 2026 USGA Champions’ plaque that will be at the Hall of Champions inside the USGA Museum and Library in Liberty Corner, New Jersey.
Talley entered the playoff rounds in third place after shooting a five-under in two rounds.
In the first playoff round of match play, She defeated Makayla Grubb 4 and 3 (four holes up with three to play). In the Round of 32, Talley was even better with a 6 and 4 win over Rayee Feng.
In the Round of 16, Talley defeated 51st seed Rachel Lee 3 and 2.
Talley faced No. 43 seed in the quarterfinals, and faced her toughest match. She had to go to the 19th hole to pull out the victory over Maggie Ma.
Talley faced 34th seed Lily Peng in the semifinals, and came away with a 6 and 4 victory.
In the final, Talley went back and forth with Iwanaga until the 12th hole. Back-to-back birdies gave Talley a 2 up lead. She birdied the 17th to lead 3-up before the second round.
She opened the second round with another opening birdie to lead 4 up. She parred fifth and birdied the sixth to lead 6-up. The pair tied the next four holes before Talley birdied the 11th, and closed out the match with a tap-in birdie put on the 12th to win 8 and 6.
After stressing over drives and putts, Talley will get ready to begin her senior year at Chowchilla Union High School this week. But, she will do it with another title to her belt — U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion.