MARIN WINS AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR
Columbia’s Maria Jose Marin after winning the 2026 Augusta National Women's Amateur. (Photo: The Masters)
Maria Jose Marin set a new championship record by two strokes with a 14-under 202 to win the 2026 Augusta National Women's Amateur. With this win, Marin becomes the first champion to represent Latin America in the history of the event as well as the first Colombian to win at Augusta National Golf Club.
The No. 7 amateur in the world, Marin started the final round trailing by one stroke and was three-under on the day through the first nine holes. A 20-foot par save at the par-4 10th hole kept her in contention before a quadruple bogey by 36-hole leader Asterisk Talley (T-4) at the par-3 12th – combined with a birdie by Marin at the 13th – catapulted Marin into the outright lead.
After adding another birdie on No. 16, the University of Arkansas junior narrowly missed a long birdie putt on No. 18, tapped in, and finished the final round with a 68 to become the second player in Championship history to shoot three rounds in the 60s (65–69–68) for a 14-under 202 winning total.
The 19-year-old joins Jennifer Kupcho, Tsubasa Kajitani, Anna Davis, Rose Zhang, Lottie Woad as Augusta National Women’s Amateur champions.
After her victory, Marin shared the following about her experience.
"When I got off 18, of course my mom and my dad were there. We talked about it yesterday, not a lot, but we talked about what would happen if you win? I was like, I want you both out on the green. I want you there because I want you to be the first ones I hug."
"Of course this is a win for my country and just beyond proud to represent them. I am half Mexican too, so it is with great pride that I represent Mexico in the bottom of my heart too. I can just say dream big. Never give up on your dreams. I would never, ever think that I was going to be right here right now, but it's just because all of my hard work and my perseverance and the love that I have for the game."
“So my plan on 12 was going to the middle of the green down the left,” Marin added of here tee shot at 12. “Of course the ball didn't turn down the left, it turned straight to the pin, and I think I got tricked with the wind because I felt it off my back. I think I've been kind of a victim of Amen Corner now because definitely gust of wind, it totally tricked me. It was into the wind; it was not downwind. When my ball stayed there -- I think it's a miracle that my ball stayed there. I just kind of have to make par and walk away out of here because this just happens once.”
"I think Augusta - well, the tournament's growth, Augusta National Women's Amateur growth, exponentially it just went up incredible. Since the tournament was made, it was broadcast on TV. It was accessible for all the people to watch and all the little kids to watch. Back home we knew about the tournament, but we didn't know a lot until we watched the last round. It was extremely inspirational for everyone. For my dad, he was the one that says, well, I think that tournament seems pretty good. We're going to do everything that's on our hands to get you in. I think, same as me, a lot of other Latinas and Colombians are hoping and dreaming of being here."
Kirkistown’s Beth Coulter missed the cut into the final third round after carding 71, 79.