U.S. Women’s Amateur: Rianne blitzes foe, 6&5
Rianne Malixi is shown with Canadian pro Rick Gibson who serves as her caddie in the ongoing US Women’s Amateur in Ooltewah, Tennessee.
COLIN HUBBARD/agence france-presse
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Rianne Malixi is shown with Canadian pro Rick Gibson who serves as her caddie in the ongoing US Women’s Amateur in Ooltewah, Tennessee.
COLIN HUBBARD/agence france-presse
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Philippine champion Rianne Malixi made a commanding start to the match-play phase of the 2026 US Women’s Amateur, routing No. 7 seed Jasmine Koo, 6 and 5, at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee.
The 2024 champion grabbed the lead with a birdie on the opening hole and never looked back, producing the largest margin of victory in the Round of 64. Malixi was six holes ahead with five to play when Koo conceded the match.
The victory was particularly notable because Malixi and Koo had previously met in the semifinal of the 2024 US Girls’ Junior, another major USGA match-play championship. Malixi went on to win that title and the US Women’s Amateur crown in the same year, becoming only the second player to accomplish the feat.
Now a rising sophomore at Duke, Malixi is seeking a second Robert Cox Trophy but said she is not allowing the pressure of defending her title to affect her approach.
“At first there is pressure because I’ve won this event before. Everyone is looking at me,” Malixi said. “But I think it goes both ways. I won this event before, so there is really no need for me to feel pressured to win again. I’m just here to enjoy the week and see a lot of new and familiar faces.”
Malixi’s emphatic victory highlighted a day of competitive match play featuring several prominent players.
Former Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion Anna Davis, the No. 4 seed, was eliminated by NCAA individual champion Rachel Heck, who rallied for a 1-up victory. Davis twice fought back to level the match, but Heck won the 14th and 16th before Davis failed to extend the contest on the 18th.
Molly Smith also advanced to the Round of 32 with a 3-and-2 victory over 2024 US Women’s Four-Ball champion Sarah Lim. Smith, playing in her fifth US Women’s Amateur, reached match play for the first time and held her lead after opening with a birdie.
Play was suspended at 8:43 p.m. because of darkness, with three matches still unfinished. Those matches were scheduled to resume at 7:15 a.m. Friday.
Malixi, meanwhile, moves into the Round of 32 with the strongest statement of the opening day of match play and remains firmly in the hunt for another historic USGA title.
