Talley claims U.S. Women’s Amateur title with dominant victory over Iwanaga
Asterisk Talley defeated Japan’s Anna Iwanaga 8-and-6 at The Honors Course in Tennessee, marking the culmination of her amateur career before joining Stanford next year.
Seventeen-year-old Asterisk Talley secured her second United States Golf Association title on Sunday, defeating Japan’s Anna Iwanaga 8-and-6 to claim the U.S. Women’s Amateur at The Honors Course in Ooteloah, Tennessee. The victory, described by CBS Sports as a dominant performance, cements Talley’s status as a premier amateur golfer and earns her a qualification for next year’s U.S. Women’s Open at Inverness Club in Ohio.
Talley, who has committed to play collegiate golf at Stanford after graduating high school, stated that the win “completes my amateur career.” The U.S. Women’s Amateur, a tournament with a history dating back to 1895, represents one of the most significant achievements in the sport. Talley noted that securing this title places it at the top of her list of accomplishments, surpassing her previous success in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball, which she won in 2024.
The final match saw Talley overcome an early challenge from Iwanaga, who had shared medalist honours during the 36-hole qualifying stage. Iwanaga took a 1-up lead after winning the ninth hole in the morning round, but that proved to be the last hole she won. Talley squared the match with a birdie on the 11th hole and followed with birdies on the subsequent two holes to take control.
Talley extended her advantage significantly during the afternoon session, reaching a 7-up lead after chipping in for an eagle on the par-5 11th hole, which served as the 29th hole of the 36-hole match. She closed out the contest with a two-putt for par on the 12th hole. Throughout the final, Talley recorded only one bogey, a precision that she attributed to her strategy of eliminating mistakes.
“I knew I had to come out strong and then come out strong in the afternoon match,” Talley said. “I didn’t want it to get too close.” The win marks a significant turnaround from the 2025 Augusta National Women’s Amateur, where Talley was the runner-up after suffering a quadruple-bogey on the 12th hole. Her previous year also saw her finish as runner-up in both the U.S. Women’s Amateur and the U.S. Junior Girls.
