Teenage American star defeats Japan’s Anna Iwanaga 8 and 6 to claim one of amateur golf’s most prestigious titles
American teenage sensation Asterisk Talley produced a commanding performance to capture the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, defeating Japan’s Anna Iwanaga 8 and 6 in the final at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee.
For the 17-year-old from Chowchilla, California, the victory represents the biggest triumph yet in an amateur career already filled with notable achievements.
Talley, the world’s No. 1-ranked junior golfer and eighth-ranked amateur, was in complete control against top-seeded Iwanaga. She recorded nine birdies and an eagle during the championship match, building a substantial advantage before sealing the title on the 12th hole.
“It pretty much completes my amateur career,” Talley said. “It’s one of the biggest events to win. It’s going to be at the top of my list from now on.”
One of the defining moments of the final came at the seventh hole, where Talley chipped in from the fringe to move seven up, celebrating with a fist pump as her dominance became increasingly evident.
The triumph was particularly meaningful after several near-misses at major amateur championships. In 2024, Talley finished runner-up at both the U.S. Girls’ Junior and the U.S. Women’s Amateur.
Earlier this year, she also endured disappointment at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, where a back-nine lead slipped away. Talley said those experiences helped shape the player who ultimately lifted the U.S. Women’s Amateur trophy.
“You’re learning from every experience. I’ve always told myself that every loss was a chance to learn,” she said. “I was able to show people I don’t get second all the time, and I got the trophy.”
Talley has enjoyed an impressive season beyond her latest victory. She was part of the victorious United States Curtis Cup team at Bel-Air Country Club and finished tied 22nd at the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club. She has also competed in three major championships this year, including making the cut at the Chevron Championship.
The final was interrupted by a weather suspension of more than an hour, continuing a week in which thunderstorms repeatedly disrupted play. But neither the delay nor the pressure of the occasion unsettled Talley.
Her father, James, served as her caddie throughout the demanding week. After the winning putt, father and daughter shared an emotional embrace before lifting the trophy together—a striking contrast to the disappointment they had experienced at Augusta just four months earlier.
For a player whose first name derives from the Greek word for “little star”, Talley’s latest performance confirmed her growing stature in world amateur golf.
At just 17, she is now a U.S. Women’s Amateur champion—and one of the brightest young talents in the game.
