Amateurs Shine at U.S. Women’s Open: Romero and Marin Secure Top 10 Finishes
Nelly Korda's victory at the Riviera Country Club may dominate discussions surrounding the 81st U.S. Women’s Open, but a significant highlight emerged from the event showcasing the promising future of women's golf. Five amateur players concluded the tournament ranked within the top 34, with Oregon's Kiara Romero and Stanford's Maria Jose Marin both finishing in the top 10. This marks the first occurrence of multiple amateurs in the top 10 since 2005.
Romero, the world's leading amateur, achieved a remarkable T-6 finish, while Marin, last year's Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion, ended just one stroke behind at T-8 with a final score of 2 under par. Both players have earned exemptions to compete at the Inverness Club during the 2027 U.S. Women’s Open in Toledo, Ohio.
Reflecting on her experience, Romero stated, "Definitely wasn't easy. This course played unbelievably hard and took a lot of brain power out there for sure. But I'm just really proud of how my game has grown these past few years." Their impressive performances were complemented by fellow amateurs Aphrodite Deng, Asterisk Talley, and Farah O'Keefe, all of whom also finished strongly.
Deng, who concluded the tournament with an even score, made history as the first Canadian to win the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship last year. Talley, soon to join Stanford, finished T-22 after a solid performance. O'Keefe, the 34th place finisher and the 2026 Annika Award recipient, recently claimed the NCAA individual title and had an exceptional season without dropping below the top 10 in her events.
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