A Remarkable Victory at Augusta National Women’s Amateur
Maria Jose Marin of Colombia made a stunning comeback to win the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, turning a tight battle into a runaway victory. Her final round was marked by a 4-under 68, which was made easier after her competitor, Asterisk Talley, faced a dramatic collapse on the back nine.
Marin expressed her immense joy, saying, “It means the world to me.” This victory was particularly significant for her, as she had previously been crushed when she failed to make the 36-hole cut last year, missing the chance to play a final round at Augusta National.
As a junior at Arkansas, Marin became the third NCAA champion to win at the home of the Masters, following Jennifer Kupcho and Rose Zhang. Her win was highlighted by an unexpected twist on the back nine, showcasing her resilience and skill.
The Turning Point
Talley, who led by as many as three shots early in the tournament, made her first bogey of the event on the challenging par-4 11th hole, falling into a tie with Marin. 
The situation quickly spiraled out of control for Talley. On the par-3 12th, she went long into a back bunker. She attempted a shot at the right pin but overpowered it, sending the ball rolling off the front of the green down a slope and into the water. Talley decided to drop in the bunker again, repeating the same mistake.
Stunned, the California teenager took her next penalty drop on the other side of the water, pitched to about 8 feet, and holed that for a quadruple-bogey 7. In the group ahead, Marin reached the par-5 13th and two-putted for birdie, moving to 14-under par and suddenly five shots ahead as Talley struggled to regain her composure.
Final Challenges
The last challenge for Marin came from Andrea Revuelta, who birdied Amen Corner to stay in contention. On the par-5 15th, Marin chose to lay up with a four-shot lead, but her third shot was well long, and her fourth shot up the slope went to the front of the green. She had 5 feet for bogey, while Revuelta had 8 feet for birdie.
Revuelta, who had reached the back collar of the green in two, missed and had to settle for par. Marin made her bogey putt to stay three ahead, and the 19-year-old Colombian hit her tee shot to about 6 feet for birdie on the 16th to secure her victory. Revuelta closed with a 68 and finished as the runner-up.
Talley took a double bogey on the 16th — she played par 3s in 6 over on the back nine — and wound up with a 75 to tie for fourth, six shots behind. Meja Örtengren of Sweden, who played in the final group with Talley, shot 74.
A Historic Win
Marin set an Augusta National Women’s Amateur record at 14-under 202. The smile never left her face as she walked up the 18th green, raising her right hand when she tapped in for par. Among those who celebrated with her was Maria Fassi of Mexico, another Arkansas star who was runner-up in the inaugural tournament. Marin has called that moment a big inspiration. 
Masters chairman Fred Ridley presented the trophy to her in Butler Cabin, and Marin held it aloft, smiled wide, and said, “It’s so pretty.”
Marin, who started the final round one shot behind, fell three back with a bogey on the third hole. That was her last big mistake until the tournament was in hand. She made a series of big par putts that kept her in range until Talley fell apart.
Along with winning the NCAA last year, Marin won the Women’s Amateur Latin America. That puts her into three of the LPGA Tour’s majors this year.
