Asterisk Talley has been flawless through the first two rounds of the Augusta National Women\u2019s Amateur. The 17-year-old takes a one-shot lead over Stanford\u2019s Meja Ortengren and Arkansas\u2019 Maria Jose Marin going into Saturday\u2019s final loop at Augusta National. Her bogey-free streak stretches back to last year\u2019s ANWA for a record 48 straight holes without dropping a shot.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s all going swimmingly for Talley, who has kept things largely stress-free the last two days. Her length off the tee has helped her shoot 6 under on the par 5s this week. When she has missed targets with her approaches, her scrambling and putting have shone to keep her card clean, especially late in the second round on Thursday at the par-3 17th, one of the most difficult holes at Champions Retreat. Her tee shot left her short and right of the long and left pin, but she navigated the lengthy two-putt to avoid dropping into a three-way tie for the lead. Over the opening rounds, Talley ranks second in the field in putts per green at 1.47.<\/p>\n
What Talley faces next is uncharted territory for the decorated junior. She\u2019ll have two nights to sleep on her lead. That\u2019s the cruel reward for outpacing her competitors, the wonky result of ANWA\u2019s one-of-a-kind format. This isn\u2019t Talley\u2019s first rodeo at Augusta, however, and her past performances suggest she\u2019ll be just fine with the wait. She has final round scores of 68 and 70 the past two years. Those are valuable reps and experience she\u2019ll lean on come Saturday. <\/p>\n
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Her distance should be an even bigger weapon at Augusta National, where she can reach all the par 5s in two. She ranks third in driving distance at 278 yards, whereas Ortengren and Marin \u2014 her two closest chasers \u2014 average 259 and 257 yards, respectively. Perhaps most importantly, Talley has shown a steadiness at Augusta National. She has just four bogeys in those two previous final rounds. If she\u2019s not dropping shots, the pressure will be on everyone else in the field to close the gap. <\/p>\n
A Bittersweet Goodbye<\/p>\n
Megha Ganne\u2019s long history with Augusta National will end one day shorter than she had hoped. A 7-over total at Champions Retreat put her eight shots off the cutline. The six-time ANWA competitor\u2019s last crack at Augusta National will be a non-competitive one in Friday\u2019s practice round. Ganne has a decade-old relationship with Augusta, first appearing in the Drive, Chip, and Putt finals in 2015. Shortly after her round wrapped up, Ganne provided a small peek into the current state of the physical and mental sides of her game: \u201cMy body hasn\u2019t felt the way I wanted for the last few months. Even apart from that, I just don\u2019t feel great over the ball, but I\u2019m excited to get to a place where I do.\u201d <\/p>\n
Patience Prevails<\/p>\n
Patience Rhodes\u2019 preparation for ANWA didn\u2019t involve much golf. This is the first start back for the Arizona State junior since breaking her left leg over the holidays, and she was put in the marquee group with tournament-favorite Talley and world No. 11 Aphrodite Deng. So much for easing into things. Rhodes spent eight weeks non-mobile and has worked tirelessly to get back in time for this week. According to ASU head coach Missy Farr-Kaye, she\u2019s nowhere near pain-free, and she estimates her health at roughly 70%. After Rhodes bagged a late birdie on the 16th to sneak inside the cutline, Farr-Kaye was elated. \u201cI\u2019m so proud of her. Happy for all the blood, sweat, and tears that she\u2019s put into this that people don\u2019t see.\u201d Rhodes was walking with a slight limp after her round, but will no doubt be just fine playing through the pain on Saturday. \u200d<\/p>\n