Maria Jose Marin of Colombia and South Korea’s Soomin Oh surged to the top of the leaderboard on Wednesday, each firing impressive seven-under-par 65s to share the first-round lead at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur on April 1, 2026.
Both players delivered bogey-free rounds, setting the pace in a field widely regarded as one of the strongest in amateur golf. They hold a one-shot advantage over a trio at six-under 66: Canada’s Vanessa Borovilos, Asterisk Talley of the United States, and Spain’s Andrea Revuelta.
Marin, a junior at the University of Arkansas and the No. 7-ranked amateur in the world, showcased poise and precision throughout her round. Starting on the back nine, she picked up early momentum with birdies at holes 12 and 15, then caught fire with three consecutive birdies at 18, 1, and 2. After settling in with steady pars, she closed in style, birdieing her final two holes to reach seven under.
The strong start marks a significant turnaround for Marin, who missed the cut in last year’s championship. Drawing from that experience, she emphasized patience and composure as key factors in her performance. With a win and nine top-10 finishes already this season, including co-medalist honors at the Clemson Invitational earlier in the week, Marin appears to be in peak form.
Oh, the No. 10 amateur in the world, matched Marin’s brilliance with a dynamic round highlighted by early aggression. She carded five birdies in her opening nine holes, including three in a row at Nos. 7, 8, and 9. Additional birdies at 14 and 18 secured her place atop the leaderboard. Known for her length, Oh took advantage of the par-5s, reaching them in two and capitalizing on scoring opportunities.
Her performance is particularly notable after missing the cut in her tournament debut last year. This season, she has already recorded three runner-up finishes globally, signaling her readiness to contend on the biggest amateur stage.
The opening round also made tournament history. The scoring average of 72.22 marked the lowest for any round since the event’s inception, continuing a trend of improving scores year over year. Nine players recorded bogey-free rounds, while 31 competitors finished under par—both new records.
The international flavor of the leaderboard is equally striking, with the top eight players representing seven different countries, underscoring the global growth of the women’s game.
The second round will be played Thursday at Champions Retreat, where the field will be trimmed to the top 30 players and ties. Those who advance will earn the coveted opportunity to compete in Saturday’s final round at Augusta National Golf Club, one of the most iconic stages in the sport.
