Natalie Yen & Asia Young Take Co-Medalist at U.S. Women's Amateur Four Ball

NICHOLS HILLS, Oklahoma - On Mother’s Day, Natalie Yen and Asia Young delivered a special gift to their moms.

The teammates at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four Ball catapulted up the leaderboard Sunday with four birdies in a row on holes 12-15 to finish at 7-under and take co-medalist honors at the USGA Championship. The two shot a combined 67 (-4) on Sunday, combined with their 68 on Saturday for 135, 7-under.

“In terms of strategy, we played it exactly the way we wanted to, giving us opportunities to make birdie. I got hot with my irons, hot with my putter, and I knew that [Asia] was playing steady golf, so that gave me the liberty to fire at pins and give myself opportunities.” Yen said about the stretch of holes 12-15.

Yen who is 18 had five birdies on the day while Young, 16 added one of her own.

“It’s amazing, it’s always an honor to play in a USGA championship,” Yen said. “But the goal is always to make match play, and comfortably if you can do it. The better you play, the better seeding you have, the better chance you have at having a slightly easier first match – though that’s never a guarantee; there can be upsets. We’re just out here trying to have fun. It would also be a huge honor to be medalist. Being medalist at a USGA championship has always been a personal goal, and to do it with Asia would just be even more special.”

“I think [earning medalist honors] side by side is even cooler than just on your own,” Young said. “I just have to say, this format is so special. Golf is so individual. I remember I was getting kind of down on myself, feeling like I was letting the team down on the front 9, and [Natalie] just came over and said, ‘It’s okay, I got this. Let’s go,’ and then we made four birdies in a row.”

Now the duo turns to match play at the event, which continues Monday at Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club.

Young has her mom on the bag caddying for her this week, so Sunday was a unique Mother’s Day.

“It was just amazing, because she’s someone who I can just say anything to, talk about my feelings. It’s just the best way to do it.” Young said.

The two friends from Oregon, with Yen from West Linn and Young from Bend share a special bond.

“Yeah, we were friends before we decided to be Four-Ball partners. I’d say being Four-Ball partners is actually second in our friendship. We’re friends first, so to get to play with [Asia] is always super special.” Yen said.

The wind played a factor in the afternoon round in Oklahoma.

“It was definitely windier today than yesterday, mainly because we had the afternoon time today,” Yen said. “We’re in Oklahoma, the wind is just part of the landscape out here. Knowing that everyone else is dealing with it and just giving yourself opportunities to stay out of trouble, opportunities for birdie when you can. Some pins are a green light, some we just aim for the middle of the green and try and get out with a par. Just steady golf all day.”

Now the Championship shifts to match play, where the two-person teams still play their own ball on every hole but the low ball wins the hole for the respective side until a champion is crowned.

“I don’t really change what I do. Maybe situationally, you can see what your opponent’s doing – it’s not you against the rest of the field, it’s just you against your opponent, so situationally, things can change,” Yen said. “But I’m not going to say I’m going for certain greens or take different clubs off the tee. We have our plan, and we’re just going to stick to it unless something changes.”

The duo played in the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four Ball, making it to the match play portion but lost in the first round after 19 holes.

The championship now switches to match play on Monday with the Round of 32 set to commence at 10 a.m. ET. Match play continues through Wednesday’s semifinal and 18-hole championship matches.