Maria Jose Marin (USGA Photo)

Players not only faced the challenge of a USGA setup on a course known for its difficult test and even tougher greens, but the relentless sun pushed those in the afternoon wave through an intense test of endurance and skill. 

But as the championship enters the 64-player match-play portion of the event at Southern Hills Country Club, it’s clear the cream has risen to the top. Twelve of the 13 top 25 players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking/WAGR® who entered the week survived the cut, with the last – Amanda Sambach – currently in the playoff for the remaining spots in match play.

The top 10 after stroke play includes two USGA champions in Asterisk Talley and Kiara Romero, an Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion in Anna Davis, the highest-ranked player in the field in Zoe Campos, and the reigning champion of the Women’s Amateur Championship conducted by The R&A in Melanie Green. 

Atop them all and earning the position of medalist was Maria Jose Marin of Colombia, who is currently ranked No. 15 in the WAGR. The rising sophomore at the University of Arkansas entered the summer, coming off an exceptional collegiate season that netted her Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year and All-SEC First Team honors. 

“It feels incredible,” said Marin, of earning medalist honors. “Pins were as hard as yesterday, and we had to be strategic in our positions. Putts had to be on point, and we had to be very careful with some shots. I think I did that with my dad [on the bag]. He knows me, he’s my coach, and we get along pretty good, so I think we made the right decisions to score well.” 

Marin shot rounds of 69-69 to finish stroke play at 4-under par. She will take the No. 1 seed into the Round of 64, which begins Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. CDT. Two years ago in Bowling Green, Ky., Marin made it to the semifinals of the 2022 U.S. Girls’ Junior.  

“It’s a really good golf course for match play,” said Marin. “You have to be very smart with your decisions. If you have the right yardage and a good pin, you can make lots and lots of birdies, so it’ll be interesting tomorrow.” 

Finishing one shot behind Marin was Melanie Green of Medina, N.Y., who earlier this summer won the Women’s Amateur Championship at Portmarnock in Ireland. Should she remain amateur, the win earned her a place in the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally at Erin Hills. 

“I put myself in really good spots and took advantage of them,” said Green, who carded rounds of 70-69. “You have to take advantage of what this course gives you and just keep plugging along.” 

Twenty players who finished stroke play at 9-over par will play off at 7:15 a.m. for the final ten spots in the match play bracket. The playoff will begin on hole No. 10, and go on to holes 11 and 12, repeating as necessary. This will mark the largest playoff in U.S. Women’s Amateur history, surpassing the previous record of 16 competitors (vying for ten spots), which was set in 2015 at Portland (Ore.) Golf Club. Notables in the playoff include No. 17-ranked amateur Amanda Sambach, former GB&I Curtis Cup player Annabel Wilson, U.S. National Junior Team member Angela Zhang and two-time USA Curtis Cupper Emilia Migliaccio. 

What’s Next  

The 20 for 10 playoff will begin at 8:15 a.m. ET on Wednesday. The Round of 64 will begin at 9:30 a.m. ET and continue through 2:40 p.m. The Round of 64 will be broadcast live on Golf Channel from 3-6 p.m. ET. 

Notable  

- Stroke-play medalists have had minimal success in the match-play portion of the championship in recent years. The No. 64 seed has knocked off the No. 1 seed six times in the last ten years, and only two medalists have advanced to the quarterfinals since 2010. 

- All three current members of the 2024 USA Curtis Cup Team advanced to match play: Zoe Campos, Jasmine Koo and Catherine Park. The full team will be announced at the conclusion of the U.S. Women’s Amateur.  

- After Southern Hills’ back nine produced the four toughest holes during Round 1, it was the front nine that played more difficult on Tuesday. The 452-yard downhill par 4 first hole was the most difficult during Round 2, averaging 0.61 strokes over par. 

- Jennifer Serbin, of Boulder Creek, Calif., recorded the only eagle of the second round of stroke play. Serbin made a 3 on the par-5 16th. 

- 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior Champion Kiara Romero was 5-over par through 11 holes on Monday. She played her remaining 25 holes of stroke play in 6-under par.  

- Brooke Biermann, of Wildwood, Mo., played 11 shots better than Monday to climb into the playoff. She shot rounds of 81-70.