Talley leads Malixi 1 up in US Women’s Amateur finals

TULSA, Okla. — Asterisk Talley leads Rianne Malixi by 1 up during a match at the US Women’s Amateur championship on Saturday, three weeks after Malixi upset Talley in the US Girls’ Junior final.

“I feel a lot better than the last time I played Rianne,” said Talley, a 15-year-old from Chowchilla, California.

Last month at the US Girls’ Junior, Malixi beat Talley 8 and 7 at El Caballero in Tarzana, California, the biggest championship game blowout in tournament history.

“It’s amazing. I love Asterisk,” said 17-year-old Malixi, from the Philippines. “He’s a good and good player again. It’s nice to be paired with him again.”

Malixi is trying to become the second player to win both events in the same year, joining Eun Jeong Seong in 2016.

Due to rain expected on Sunday at Southern Hills, the first 18 holes of the 36-hole championship match were moved to Saturday.

“I need to hit more fairways,” Talley said. “That will help me get closer to the hole, hit more greens. I feel like that’s what will win tomorrow, whoever can keep their ball played the most.”

Talley won five holes on the seven-hole par at Nos. 6-12 to turn a two-hole deficit into a three-hole lead.

Malixi rallied to take three of the next four to tie it. Talley bounced back with a par on the 4th 17th and they had a par on the par-4 18th.

“It’s good to cut Asterisk’s lead,” said Malixi. “It was a confidence booster because I didn’t see any of my putts drop today.”

In the morning semifinals, Talley led Maria Jose Marin 1 after 14 when the Colombian retired due to a left knee injury. Malixi defeated Kendall Todd of Litchfield Park, Arizona, 1 up. 18-year-old Marin and 21-year-old Todd are teammates in Arkansas.

Talley teamed with Sarah Lim to win the US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball in May in San Antonio.

Malixi has verbally committed to play at Duke, with plans to start playing in college in 2025.