On a Sunday that will be etched into the amateur golf history books, Oregon’s Kiara Romero delivered a dazzling final round at Erin Hills to close out her U.S. Women’s Open debut with a bang — and a record.
Romero, a freshman phenom and the 2025 Big Ten Women’s Golfer of the Year, fired a 5-under 67 in the final round, the lowest single-round score ever recorded by an amateur in the history of the U.S. Women’s Open. She finished T45 at 296 (+8), an impressive achievement that came despite a tough third round of 84 on Saturday.
Playing alongside her college coach Derek Radley, who was on the bag for the week, Romero made the cut after rounds of 73-72 and then stormed back into the spotlight on Sunday with a round that featured seven birdies, including back-to-back red numbers at holes 9 and 10, and a clutch birdie on the par-3 13th.
Final Round Stats:
- Strokes gained putting: +3.15 (1st)
- Strokes gained approach: +2.54 (3rd)
- Strokes gained off the tee: +1.49 (7th)
- Greens in regulation: 83% (T5)
- Fairways hit: 86% (T22)
- Driving distance: 267.3 yards (16th)
- Putts: 27
Despite falling out of contention on Saturday, Romero’s final-round heroics vaulted her back to fourth among amateurs, trailing only Lottie Woad, Farah O’Keefe, and Carolina Lopez-Chacarra. It capped a spring season in which she led the Oregon Ducks to a Big Ten Championship and a second consecutive appearance in the NCAA semifinals.
With her performance on one of golf’s biggest stages, Romero once again proved that she belongs in elite company — and that the future of women’s amateur golf is in very good hands.