Malixi trails Talley by one in first 18 holes of US Women’s Amateur finals
RIANNE MALIXI of the Philippines trailed old rival Asterisk Talley of the US by one after the first 18 holes of the US Women’s Amateur finals Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Mmess. Malixi and Talley engaged in a back and forth in the initial salvo of the 36-hole finale at the Southern Hills Country Club, which was split over two days due to inclement weather forecast in the area early Sunday.
The two went through three lead changes and three dead-locks before Ms. Talley grabbed the upperhand with a birdie on No. 17 and maintained it with a par on the 18th.
The 17-year-old Ms. Malixi will seek to turn it around in the final 18 holes Sunday afternoon and repeat against Ms. Talley, 15, the same player she defeated last month en route to the US Girls’ Junior crown, 8 and 7.
If successful, the Pinay ace will join Eun Jeong Seong as the only players in history to win the US Girl’s Junior and the US Women’s Amateur in the same year. Ms. Eun achieved the feat in 2016.
Mmess. Malixi and Talley arranged a title rematch by beating their respective semifinal opponents, Kendall Todd of the US and top seed Maria Jose Marin Saturday morning.
To clear the path to their second finals showdown in 21 days, Ms. Malixi fired back-to-back birdies in the last two holes to rally past Ms. Todd, 1-up, while Ms. Talley held a 1-up edge before a limping Ms. Marin conceded after 14 holes.
“It’s amazing. I love Asterisk,” Ms. Malixi said of Ms. Talley. “She is such a good player and a good person as well. It’s fun being matched up with her again.”
“I’m feeling a lot better than last time I played Rianne (Malixi),” Ms. Talley said with a chuckle. “I feel like it’s just that this course is a lot harder than (El Caballero in California) and what we had to play before. I mean, she shot like 10-under in the first 15 holes. You can’t really do that out here, especially with us both missing a ton of fairways today.”
“I feel like that’s going to be what I have to work on for tomorrow. I need to hit more fairways. That’s going to help me get close to the hole, hit more greens. I feel like that’s what will be what wins tomorrow, is whoever can keep their ball in play the most.” — Olmin Leyba