In case you missed it, there was quite a bit of NorCal flavor at the recent U.S. Women’s Open Presented By Ally at The Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. If you saw it, it’s definitely worth repeating.
For starters, defending NCGA Women’s Player of the Year and Oregon women's golf junior Kiara Romero put together a stellar Sunday final round to tie for sixth place, earning the silver medal as the low amateur in the field at 3-under par.
Competing in just her third U.S. Women's Open, Romero made five birdies and only two bogeys in the final round to post a 3-under 68. The three-time, first-team all-American and 2020 Junior Tour of Northern California Girls’ Player of the Year entered Sunday's round at even par and in the top 20 after going 73-70-70 across the first three days.
She’d finish five strokes behind eventual champion Nelly Korda (-8), and one stroke ahead of Maria Jose Marin (-2) to earn low amateur status.
With her finish, Romero earned two more points towards the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP) program. That gives Romero 16 points in the LEAP program, most among current amateurs, needing just four more to get to the 20 required to be eligible for LPGA Tour Membership.
While at The Riviera, Romero, a San Jose native, competed with her sister and Ducks assistant coach Kaleiya Romero, who also made cut (T-49). Kiara and Kaleiya became just the ninth set of sisters to compete in the U.S. Women's Open in the same year.
Also making noise was three-time JTNC Girls’ Player of the Year and 2023-24 NCGA Women’s Player of the Year Asterisk Talley.
Coming off a disappointing second round 75, Talley, who hails from Chowchilla, bounced back with a bogey-free 66 that at one point put her just four shots off the lead.
The 66 was the lowest weekend round by an amateur in U.S. Women’s Open history. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Talley became the first amateur to post a bogey-free 66 or lower in an LPGA major in 21 years (Louise Stahle did so at the 2005 Women’s British Open).
