California native Asterisk Talley was in familiar form in the second round of this year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur. And while her eagle on the 18th yesterday was only her halfway point, as the 17-year-old started on the back nine in the first round, scorecard moguls might argue that moment set the momentum Talley needed to place herself right atop the leaderboard Thursday afternoon.
Talley, who is the top junior golfer in the world, also made history at the ANWA Thursday, becoming the first player in the history of the Championship to record four consecutive rounds in the 60s. She also surpassed defending champion Carla Bernat Escuder’s record of most consecutive holes without a bogey.
“Ever since I’ve gotten there, I mean, I’ve kind of just had some fun,” Talley said. “I mean, I haven’t really totally been in contention the last couple of years, so I was just kind of going out there to play my best golf. I’ve played well there the past two years, so hopefully just doing the same thing.
“I think I just always have the highest expectations for myself possible. I mean, 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.”
Starting on the front nine of the Island and Bluff courses Thursday, Talley posted consecutive birdies in the first three holes, before shooting par until back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15. A bogey-free, 5-under-67 was enough to propel the Stanford commit into solo first place, one stroke ahead of her future college teammate, Meja Örtengren.
The Swede also racked up a 67 in the second round, with her rendition of a 5-under on the day including an eagle on the par-5 Hole No. 3, three birdies on the front nine and a bogey on the par-5 No. 14.
With her brother on the bag Saturday, Amen Corner might be less daunting for the soft-spoken Örtengren.
“I think I’m just trying to try and enjoy tomorrow as much as I can,” she said. “I know that I’m going to be tense and nervous on Saturday, so I feel like I’m going to try and enjoy the experience of playing Augusta National completely empty and walking with my family inside the ropes.”
The sophomore at Stanford is making her fifth appearance at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur this year. A win would slate her as one of the best from Sweden, the first from her country to win the prestigious amateur event and only the second European to do so.
“I think I’ve learned that you need to have a lot of patience out there and be disciplined with your approaches,” said the Swede. “It can get away from you quite easily if you hit bad shots into the greens, but also you can get a lot of opportunities if you hit the right spots at Augusta.
“This is the biggest kind of amateur tournament there is, and it’s been a dream ever since they announced it to win it. I also think that seeing the Swedish girls before me doing well on this stage is a little bit of a confidence boost.”
Örtengren shares the runner-up spot at 10-under with first-round co-leader Maria Jose Marin, who finished Thursday 3-under for the day. Following a birdie on No. 3 and a bogey right after, Marin rallied to stay in contention with birdies on 9, 14 and 18.
“Birdieing the par-5s on this course, it’s a huge advantage,” Marin said. “They have really complicated greens. So birdieing all four, it gives me a pretty good feeling.
“I imagined 1,000 times me playing in the last group, but I never thought it was going to be a reality. So, I’m just really grateful that I’m in a good position for it.”
Four strokes behind her teammate, Stanford golfer Andrea Revuelta walked into the clubhouse Thursday at T4 with Mississippi State’s Avery Weed. Revuelta, who started on the back nine at Champions Retreat, had a slower start following a bogey on No. 13 and a double on 16.
However, the Spaniard was never phased, finishing off her day with birdies on Nos. 7 and 8 to shoot an even 72.
“[My round] was a little bit of everything,” Revuelta said. “I had my ups and downs, but I did a great job in staying calm and in the moment and believing in myself, wishing for those little birdies to come down at the end. I’m proud of myself for doing that. It wasn’t the best day of golf for me, but I’m proud of what I did today out there.”
Wednesday’s co-leader Soomin Oh currently sits in T6 at 5-under, with a start on the back nine coming as a disadvantage for the Korean, who shot a 2-over-74 on Thursday. WAGR No. 1 Kiara Romero shot a 2-under-70 again in the second round but remained seven shots behind Talley.
The top 30, including ties, made the cut following the second round. All 72 women in the field will have the opportunity to play a practice round at Augusta on Friday before the top 30 and ties tee off for the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur on Saturday.
