José Marin Shines as Co-Leader at Augusta National Women’s Amateur

Arkansas junior golfer Maria José Marin turned heads at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, firing a bogey-free 65 to co-lead the event. Her round put her in a strong spot to make the cut for the second time in four appearances.

Let’s dig into the details of her game, the competition, and what this means for Arkansas women’s golf.

Maria José Marin’s Impressive Opening Round

Maria José Marin, a junior from Arkansas, made a big statement at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur by shooting a bogey-free 65. She’s tied for the lead with Korea’s Soomin Oh.

This round at Champions Retreat Golf Club (Par 72) stands out as her best among nine rounds at ANWA. Marin’s performance set the tone for what could be a memorable run in the tournament.

Details of Her Round

Marin started early on the back nine at Champions Retreat. She birdied every third hole, putting herself at 3-under alongside Stanford commit Asterisk Talley.

On the second nine, Marin came out hot with back-to-back birdies on holes 1 and 2, both par 4s. She kept her cool, parring the next five holes, then closed with birdies on 8 and 9—one a par three, the other a par five—to grab a share of the lead.

Challenges and Competitors

The field at Augusta National Women’s Amateur is stacked, with 72 players chasing the top spots. Marin’s score came on the lowest scoring day in the championship’s history, with an average of 72.22.

Key Competitors

• Soomin Oh: Also at 7-under, Oh finished strong with a birdie on the par 5 18th.
• Asterisk Talley: The Stanford commit was tied with Marin early but slipped back.
• Paula Martin Sampedro and Anna Davis: Both sit at -1, showing just how deep the talent runs here.

Other Arkansas players in the mix include senior Reagan Zibilski, who’s at even par and right on the cut line. Freshman Sara Brentcheneff finished at +5.

Zibilski tees off at 7 a.m., with Brentcheneff following at 7:58 a.m., both from hole 10.

Strategic Approach and Preparation

Marin’s success isn’t just luck—it comes from careful prep and strategy. She hit 14 of 18 fairways and every green, showing off her accuracy and patience.

She credits her coach and her dad for helping her build a solid plan for the course.

Building a Winning Strategy

Marin talked about the need to trust herself and her game. She said, *I think I can build a really good strategy around this place, and that’s what I did, along with my coach and my dad. They told me, ‘You know the place, you know what you’re doing, just trust yourself, trust your game, and just be you.’*

Clearly, that mindset worked—she played with confidence from start to finish.

The Road Ahead

Looking forward, only the top 30 and ties after Thursday’s second round will move on to Saturday’s final round at Augusta National Golf Club. The projected cut line sits at even, so every shot really matters now.

Upcoming Tee Times and Coverage

Marin’s group, with Stanford’s Paula Martin Sampedro and past champ Anna Davis from Auburn, tees off at 8:55 a.m. CT from hole 1 at Champions Retreat.

Golf Channel will cover the second round live starting at 12:30 p.m. CT. Fans can follow every shot as the drama unfolds.

Significance for Arkansas Women’s Golf

Marin’s play at Augusta National Women’s Amateur marks a big moment for Arkansas women’s golf. It shines a light on the team’s talent and gives her teammates—and plenty of young golfers—something to shoot for.

Other Razorbacks in the Field

Senior Reagan Zibilski and freshman Sara Brentcheneff are also representing Arkansas. Zibilski is at even par, right at the cut line, and Brentcheneff sits at +5.

Their efforts, alongside Marin’s, show just how much promise this Arkansas squad has.