Alpharetta, GA. - Asterisk Talley of Chowchilla, California, and Courtney Grace of Birmingham, Alabama, sit atop the leaderboard after the opening round of the Hilton Grand Vacations ANNIKA Invitational presented by Rolex. The pair posted matching 6-under-par 66s to take a one-shot advantage into the second round.
The 54-hole stroke-play event brings together 72 of the top female junior golfers from around the world to compete at The Golf Club of Georgia this week. Hosted by the ANNIKA Foundation and the AJGA, the tournament is celebrating its 18th anniversary in 2026.
The champion will earn an exemption into the 2027 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, joining the LPGA's winners-only field at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club from February 1-7, 2027.
Talley, the No. 1 player in the Rolex AJGA Rankings, carded a bogey-free 6-under-par 66 that featured six birdies. The defending champion and four-time Rolex Junior All-American is seeking her sixth AJGA Invitational title this week.
Grace entered the week ranked No. 30 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings and matched Talley's 6-under-par effort. The Birmingham, Alabama native recorded three birdies and an eagle on the front nine before adding another birdie on the back. The Class of 2030 graduate is seeking her first AJGA Invitational victory.
Alexandra Snyder of Orlando, Florida, sits alone in third place at 5-under-par 67. The Wake Forest commit recorded six birdies against one bogey during her opening round. The Class of 2028 graduate won the 2025 CDW Girls Junior All-Star Championship to earn an exemption into the tournament and is seeking her first AJGA Invitational victory. Snyder, currently No. 27 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings, is a 2025 Rolex Junior All-American and represented the winning East Team at the 2026 Wyndham Cup.
Honorine Ferry of Flower Mound, Texas, and Macie Rasmussen of Chesapeake, Virginia, are tied for fourth place at 3-under-par 69, three shots off the lead.
The second round is underway at The Golf Club of Georgia as the field plays 36 holes Friday ahead of anticipated weather impacts from Hurricane Isaias.
For more information or photo requests, please contact AJGA Communications Manager - Lily Joyce (ljoyce@ajga.org).