BATTLING recent back injury and student visa issues, defending champion Rianne Malixi fired a bogey-free 68 on Monday (Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, PH time) for a share of the first-round lead at the 125th US Women’s Amateur Championships at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon.
The 18-year-old Filipina ace putter compiled four birdies to post a 4-under par, earning her spot atop the leaderboard alongside University of Arizona rising senior Julia Misemer and University of Texas bet Cindy Hsu (Chinese Taipei).
They were one stroke clear of Asterisk Talley of Chowchilla, California — the same opponent Malixi defeated for both the 2024 US Women’s Amateur final and US Girls’ Junior titles.
Malixi appeared to be in good condition following a back problem that forced her to withdraw from two LPGA Tour invites, including a major at the Chevron Championship.
She also shrugged off the delay in the approval of her student visa to play for Duke University this fall, which was finalized just six hours prior to her flight to Oregon last Saturday (Sunday in PH), in time for Sunday’s nine-hole official practice.
The incoming Duke University freshman is now ranked No. 9 in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), according to the USGA.
Malixi is also bidding to become the first player since Danielle Kang in 2010-11 to win back-to-back US Women’s Amateur titles.
Misemer finished strong with birdies on Hole Nos. 13, 14 and 17 to join Malixi, while Hsu posted her own hot back nine to take her share of the top spot after the opening round.
Also trailing one stroke behind along with Talley were US National Junior Team member Scarlett Schremmer, Auburn University’s Anna Davis, recent North Carolina State graduate Lauren Oliveras (Mexico) and Emilia Doran. / RP2 SPORTS