Natalie Yen & Asia Young Tied for 3rd at U.S. Women's Amateur Four Ball

NICHOLS HILLS, Oklahoma - Natalie Yen of West Linn, Oregon, and Asia Young of Bend, Oregon, are tied for third after the first day at the 10th U.S. Women’s Amateur Four Ball Championsip put on by the USGA at Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club on Saturday.

The pair shot a 3-under, 68 to sit near the top of the leaderboard after the first day. The two players played in this event last year, so they have that experience to draw on as the tournament unfolds. The leaders Charlotte Cantonis and Amelie Zalsman are at 5-under.

“When you come out here for the first time at a USGA event there is always that question of like what level are you able to compete at with everyone and last year you know we did go out in 19 holes in the first round (of match play) and was like you know we could've won that match. It was an indicator that we are ready to be out here, and we can go all the way.” Asia Young said.

“More time spent talking with each other even outside of golf, there's more trust even this year, not that we didn't have trust last year, but I think we're ready.” Natalie Yen said.

Yen has committed to play at Texas A&M University in the Fall of 2025. While Young who is 16, is still in high school and her mom is caddying for her this week.

In four-ball, matches are played in pairs (a player and a partner, called a side, against another player and partner), with each golfer playing his or her own ball on each hole. At the end of each hole, the player with the lowest score wins that hole for the side. In stroke play, the low score is the side’s score for that hole.

Yen had a birdie on the first hole while Young had birdies at holes 6, 13, and 15.

“I think a few holes when I was in trouble, I knew my partner was there for me and then I was able to convert some putts.” Young said.

After two days of stroke play, the championship moves to three days of match play to determine a champion.

“I think we're ready. We played a lot and are really good friends now, so just being able to keep playing together and feeling closer to each other like, ‘Hey, no pressure. We’re in this together.’” Young added.

Yen competed in both the 2023 and 2024 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championships while Young competed in the 2024 USGJ as well. So, this is Yen’s fourth USGA championship and Young’s third.

A team from Portland, Oregon, is in the championship with Amanda Jacobs and Gretchen Johnson sitting at +1, 72 tied for 29th after day one.

The top 32 teams after the first two days of stroke play advance to match play, which will continue until May 14, until a champion is crowned.

The long time friends are competing in their third U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball together. Johnson has twice advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur (2018 and 2023). This will be Johnson’s 10th USGA championship.

Both players have extensive experience playing in the OGA and PNGA Championship events.

Jacobs played collegiately at the University of Idaho and qualified for the 2018 LPGA Portland Classic at Columbia-Edgewater C.C., where she grew up playing the game.

As a junior golfer Jacobs, watched Jenny Rosales in the Kraft Nabisco Pro-Am, and when her partner failed to show, she invited Jacobs inside the ropes to play nine holes with her clubs.

To follow the live scoring, visit 2025 U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball Championship: Scoring.

Yen and Young tee off on Sunday, May 11, at 11:02 a.m. while Jacobs and Johnson tee off at 11:15 a.m.