Kiara Romero races to ANWA lead, 'happiest she has ever been' with sister Kaleiya on the bag
Kiara Romero races to ANWA lead, 'happiest she has ever been' with sister Kaleiya on the bag
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ANWA contendor Kiara Romero on her mental fortitude
ANWA contender Kiara Romero credits a strengthened mental approach for helping her game this year.
Kiara Romero has a decision to make.
The 19-year-old University of Oregon sophomore birdied her last three holes on Thursday at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Evans, Georgia, to take the lead heading into the final round of the 2025 Augusta National Women's Amateur. She shares the lead with Lottie Woad, the top-ranked amateur in the world and defending ANWA champion, and the duo will comprise the final pairing in Saturday's final round.
But who's going to caddie for Romero at Augusta National Golf Club?
She can either:
1) Keep her sister, Kaleiya, on the bag come Saturday, or ...2) Go with a local caddie. In the past, some players have used a local caddie while others have kept family or coaches.
"I'm thinking about having my sister stay on the bag, but we're just going to go out tomorrow, have a local caddie and her kind of walk with me throughout it," Romero said. "I'll just go from there."
It's a good decision to have to make.
Kaleiya graduated from Pepperdine last year and joined Oregon's staff this season as a graduate assistant. She's getting her Master's and plans to go to Q-School down the road, as well.
In the meantime, Kaleiya has been able to watch her sister this season become one of college golf's best, and now Romero is 18 holes away from the biggest win of her career with her sister by her side.
"I feel like this week I've been like the happiest I've ever been on the course," Romero said. "I feel like, if you see me last year making a double, I'm definitely not happy. I'm definitely not looking around smiling at anyone.
"Today was a lot different. I kind of was really proud of myself for the way I handled it and kind of moved on from it."
Romero's round started quickly, making birdie on the par-4 10th, her opening hole. Romero, who's ranked fifth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and NCAA golf ranking, added birdies on Nos. 14, 18 and 3 and was 4 under through 12 holes in her round before going double bogey-bogey on Nos. 4-5 and, at the time, falling three shots behind Woad.
Last year, Romero shot 71 in the opening round but said she let her mind wander after a stellar 9-hole start. She started chasing the tournament and thought ahead to Saturday at Augusta National when she had plenty of golf left in front of her at Champions Retreat. She felt like she shot herself out of the tournament.
This year was different. She wasn't freaking out after the two poor holes. She collected herself and finished with three straight birdies to sign for 4-under 68, good for a 9-under 135 total.
"I feel like I have a lot more control over the mental side of it," Romero said. "I feel like that kind of shows the way my game has matured from last year.
"I just kind of kept playing my game and sticking to the game plan and give myself good opportunities."
Woad, who is looking to become the first player to win multiple ANWA titles – and go back-to-back – shot 2-under 70 after an opening 65 and will likely be the favorite heading into Saturday's final round.
Megha Ganne, Carla Bernat Escuder and Andrea Revuelta are all in the mix, too, sitting a shot back and T-3.
But Romero hopes Saturday is her chance to shine. She won the 2023 U.S. Girls' Junior and had a strong freshman year at Oregon. She has been more consistent as a sophomore but hasn't picked up any wins yet, instead placing runner-up four times this season.
But the final round could be her chance to break through, and she could do it with Kaleiya by her side.
"She started golf before me, and I just kind of copied everything she did," Romero said of her older sister. "That was one of the things I just fell into because of her.
"I think playing with both of my siblings growing up kind of taught me how to compete. It kind of taught me how to love competing and love this sport a lot. I've learned a lot from them, so I look up to them a lot."
Whether Kaleiya is on the bag or outside the ropes following along, Romero is prepared for a battle in big thanks to her sister's guidance, both on the course this week and in the 19 years leading up to the biggest final round of Romero's life on Saturday.
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