Romero, Talley Among Those Invited to Curtis Cup Practice Session

Written by NCGA Staff | Nov 25, 2025 4:39:57 PM

The USGA Teams Selection Committee has invited 12 players to attend a practice session Jan. 16-18 for the 2026 Curtis Cup Match. The three days of practice will be held in Los Angeles at Bel-Air Country Club, the site of the 2026 Curtis Cup Match.  Among those invited are Kiara Romero, the 2024-25 NCGA Women's Player of the Year, and Asterisk Talley, the 2023-24 Women's Player of the Year. 
 

Below is a table summarizing the players who have accepted invitations to the practice session, along with their age, hometown, and college affiliation:

| Player Name | Age | Hometown | College (Class Year) |

| Anna Davis | 19 | Spring Valley, Calif. | Auburn (2027) |

| Kary Hollenbaugh | 21 | New Albany, Ohio | Ohio State (2026) |

| Jasmine Koo | 19 | Cerritos, Calif. | USC (2028) |

| Chloe Kovelesky | 18 | Boca Raton, Fla. | Wake Forest (2028) |

| Farah O’Keefe | 20 | Austin, Texas | University of Texas (2027) |

| Macy Pate | 20 | Winston-Salem, N.C. | Wake Forest (2027) |

| Catherine Park | 21 | Irvine, Calif. | USC (2026) |

| Kiara Romero | 19 | San Jose, Calif. | University of Oregon (2027) |

| Andie Smith | 22 | Hobe Sound, Fla. | Duke (2026) |

| Asterisk Talley | 16 | Chowchilla, Calif. | High School (2027) |

| Kelly Xu | 21 | Claremont, Calif. | Stanford (2026) |

| Avery Weed | 20 | Ocean Springs, Miss. | Mississippi State (2027) |

Romero, the 2025 McCormack Medal winner and current No. 1-ranked amateur, headlines this year’s group of invitees.

She delivered one of the most impressive freshman campaigns in Oregon history, earning WGCA Co-Freshman of the Year honors, first-team All-America recognition and a spot on the All-Pac-12 first team. The 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior champion also shattered the program’s single-season scoring record with a 70.84 average and collected two individual victories (Annika Intercollegiate, San Diego State Classic). By virtue of her McCormack Medal, Romero is the only player already assured a place on the 2026 USA Curtis Cup Team. 

Davis, Koo, Park and Talley were members of the 2024 USA Curtis Cup Team, which narrowly fell to Great Britain & Ireland, 10.5–9.5, at Sunningdale Golf Club (Old Course) in England. Talley, who was just 15 at the time, posted a 2-1-1 record that included a singles win over then–No. 1 amateur Lottie Woad. Koo matched that performance with a 2-1-1 record of her own. 

Park and O’Keefe recently competed for the USA Team at the Women’s World Amateur Championship in Singapore, where they took home the gold medal.


“Being invited to a Curtis Cup practice session is a significant milestone in any player’s career, and we’re thrilled to welcome these 12 outstanding amateurs into the selection process for the 2026 Match,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer. “Each of them has distinguished herself through performance, work ethic and a deep love for the game. We look forward to seeing them compete, learn and grow together as we begin shaping the team that will represent the United States on one of amateur golf’s most inspiring stages.” 
 
The final roster will be comprised of eight players. An invitation to the Curtis Cup practice session does not guarantee selection to the team. Players not invited will also be considered for inclusion on the team. Meghan Stasi, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., will again captain the USA team after doing so in 2024. Stasi was a member of the victorious 2008 Curtis Cup team that won on the Old Course at St. Andrews. She is also a four-time U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion and eight-time Florida State Golf Association Women's Amateur Player of the Year. 

 

The 44th Match will be played at Bel-Air Country Club from June 12-14, 2026. The 2026 Walker Cup Match will be held Sept. 5-6, 2026, at Lahinch in the Republic of Ireland. This will be the first time since 1938 that both Matches will be held in the same year. 

 
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