With one of the largest number of amateurs in the field each year, the U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally presents a great opportunity for players to take advantage of earning points in the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP). Maria Jose Marin, Aphrodite Deng, Asterisk Talley, Kiara Romero and Farah O’Keefe did just that.

At an LPGA major championship, amateurs can earn one point for a made cut and an additional point for a finish inside the top 25 and ties. An amateur must reach the 20-point threshold to be eligible for LPGA Tour Membership.

O’Keefe, Romero and Talley are also slated to play in next week’s Curtis Cup down the road at Bel-Air Country Club. Following participation, each player will receive two points in the LEAP standings.

Kiara Romero, Low-Amateur Honors (T6)

The 2025 Mark H. McCormack Medal recipient earned a spot in the field with her reception of the honor as the leading player in the Women’s World Amateur Golf ranking following the conclusion of the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 2025. Her sister and Epson Tour player, Kaleiya, also played the weekend.

This is her third consecutive U.S. Women’s Open start, and her sixth start in an LPGA Tour event. Romero has notably earned a top-10 finish on the LPGA Tour after finishing in a tie for seventh at The Standard Portland Classic last fall.

The 20-year-old earned low-amateur honors after finishing in a tie for sixth. Her finish grants her two LEAP points, bringing her total to 16. Romero is just four points shy of securing LPGA Tour Membership.

Maria Jose Marin (T8)

With her win at the 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur, the Arkansas junior earned a spot in the field at the U.S. Women’s Open.

The 19-year-old finished at two-under par for the week, just one short of tying Romero for low amateur honors. This is her second top-10 finish in an LPGA Tour event this year next to the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba where she finished in fifth place.

She earned two LEAP points and sits five points away from earning LPGA Tour Membership.

Aphrodite Deng (T17)

The reigning U.S. Girls Junior champion earned a spot into this week’s field after her 2 and 1 victory over Xingtong Chen last year.

The Canadian shot a final-round 73 in her first start at the U.S. Women’s Open, dropping slightly on the leaderboard but staying within the top 25 and ties to earn her next two LEAP points.

Deng has earned six LEAP points in the past two seasons between her U.S. Girls Junior Championship victory, finishes in the top 40 and ties at the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open and 2026 JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro and her reception of the AJGA Player of the Year in 2025.

Asterisk Talley (T22)

Talley earned a spot in the field by shooting rounds of 70 and 69 at Richmond Country Club on May 11.

The 17-year-old made headlines this week by recording a 66 on Moving Day, the lowest weekend round by an amateur at the U.S. Women’s Open. It was the first time in more than 20 years that an amateur posted a bogey-free 66 or lower at a major championship since Louise Stahle did so at the 2005 AIG Women’s Open.

Talley has earned at least one LEAP point in every LPGA Tour event she has participated in this season, the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass, JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro, The Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open.

Her total in the LEAP standings now comes to nine points after acquiring two from her finish at The Riviera Country Club.

Farah O’Keefe (T34)

Less than a month ago, O’Keefe secured a place in the U.S. Women’s Open with her individual title at the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship.

O’Keefe has been the quickest player to rise in the LEAP standings as of late, securing six points in three days with her NCAA individual title and reception of the ANNIKA Award presented by Stifel and the PING Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) Player of the Year.

The University of Texas junior celebrated her 21st birthday this week by making her third U.S. Women’s Open start and fifth start on the LPGA Tour. Her total in the LEAP standings is now 12 with more opportunities coming as the summer begins.

For more information on the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway, visit LPGA.com/LEAP.

Five Amateurs Earned LEAP points at the U.S. Women's Open presented by Ally

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