TULSA, Okla. — Asterisk Talley led Rianne Malixi 1 up midway by means of the U.S. Girls’s Newbie championship match Saturday, three weeks after Malixi routed Talley within the U.S. Ladies’ Junior closing.
“I am feeling loads higher than final time I performed Rianne,” mentioned Talley, the 15-year-old from Chowchilla, California,
Final month within the U.S. Ladies’ Junior, Malixi beat Talley 8 and seven at El Caballero in Tarzana, California, the most important championship-match blowout in event historical past.
“It is wonderful. I really like Asterisk,” mentioned the 17-year-old Malixi, from the Philippines. “She is such an excellent participant and good particular person as effectively. It is enjoyable being matched up along with her once more.”
Malixi is attempting to develop into the second participant to win each occasions in the identical 12 months, becoming a member of Eun Jeong Seong in 2016.
Due to anticipated rain Sunday at Southern Hills, the primary 18 holes of the 36-hole championship match have been moved to Saturday.
“I have to hit extra fairways,” Talley mentioned. “That is going to assist me get near the opening, hit extra greens. I really feel like that is what will probably be what wins tomorrow, is whoever can hold their ball in play probably the most.”
Talley gained 5 holes in a seven-hole stretch on Nos. 6-12 to show a two-hole deficit right into a three-hole lead.
Malixi rallied to take three of the following 4 to tie it. Talley moved again forward with a par win on the par-4 seventeenth and so they had matching pars on the par-4 18th.
“It is simply good to chop down a few of Asterisk’s lead,” Malixi mentioned. “It was such a confidence booster as a result of I did not actually see a few of my putts drop in at present.”
Within the morning semifinals, Talley led Maria Jose Marin 1 up after 14 when the Colombian retired due to a left knee damage. Malixi topped Kendall Todd of Litchfield Park, Arizona, 1 up. The 18-year-old Marin and 21-year-old Todd are teammates at Arkansas.
Talley teamed with Sarah Lim to win the U.S. Girls’s Newbie 4-Ball in Might in San Antonio.
Malixi has verbally dedicated to play at Duke, with plans to start faculty play in 2025.
