The 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur has a new solo leader — and a dramatically reshaped leaderboard heading into Augusta National.
After opening in a share of the lead, Asterisk Talley surged ahead on Thursday with a second-round 67, moving to 11-under 133 and taking control of the championship at the halfway point.
Talley, last year’s runner-up, continues to build on unfinished business. Her performance through two rounds has been composed and opportunistic, combining steady ball-striking with timely scoring runs. In a championship where momentum can shift quickly, she now holds the clearest position entering the final round.
Just one shot behind at 10-under 134 are Meja Örtengren and Maria Jose Marin. Örtengren matched Talley’s 67 to climb into contention, while Marin followed her opening 65 with a 69 to remain firmly in the hunt.
A group at 6-under 138 sits four shots back, led by Andrea Revuelta and Avery Weed. Revuelta’s even-par 72 slowed her early momentum, while Weed’s 70 kept her within striking distance heading into Saturday.
The leaderboard tightens further at 5-under 139, where a deep group includes Soomin Oh, Lauren Kim, Arianna Lau, Gyubeen Kim, Amelie Zalsman, Chloe Kovelesky, Raegan Denton, and Vanessa Borovilos. Oh, who shared the first-round lead, slipped back with a 74 but remains within range.
Further down the board, several notable contenders safely advanced inside the cut line, including World No. 1 Kiara Romero, Paula Martin Sampedro, and Aphrodite Deng, all positioned at 4-under 140 or better.
| 1. Asterisk Talley | -11 (133) |
| T2. Meja Örtengren | -10 (134) |
| T2. Maria Jose Marin | -10 (134) |
| T4. Andrea Revuelta | -6 (138) |
| T4. Avery Weed | -6 (138) |
The cut fell at 1-under 143, sending the top 30 players and ties through to Saturday’s final round at Augusta National. With only one round remaining, positioning is now critical — and the margin for error is gone.
This championship now shifts to Augusta National, where history is made and pressure is amplified. Talley will carry the lead, but with multiple elite players within striking distance, the final round promises a tightly contested finish.
Two rounds down. One iconic stage left. And a leaderboard built for drama at Augusta National.