Alpharetta, GA - Asterisk Talley of Chowchilla, California, leads the Hilton Grand Vacations ANNIKA Invitational presented by Rolex with a 36-hole score of 9-under-par 135.
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.
Asterisk Talley continued her bogey-free streak in the second round of the #ANNIKAInvUSA. The No. 1 player in the Rolex AJGA Rankings opened her round with a birdie on No. 1 and added two more on Nos. 5 and 12. The defending champion carded three birdies and 15 pars en route to a 3-under-par 69. Talley heads into the final round with a three-stroke lead as she looks to successfully defend her title.
Grace Carter of Jupiter, Florida, and Courtney Grace of Birmingham, Alabama, are tied for second place at 6-under-par 138.
Carter surged 14 spots up the leaderboard during the second round after firing a 6-under-par 66. The class of 2029 graduate opened with a birdie on No. 1 before making a bogey on No. 5 to make the turn at even par. The 2025 Rolex Junior All-American caught fire on the back nine, carding six birdies to finish at 6-under par for the round. After opening with an even-par 72, Carter heads into the final round at 6-under-par overall and in search of her second AJGA Invitational victory.
Grace shared the first-round lead before slipping one spot after posting an even-par 72 in the second round. She recorded two birdies and two bogeys to remain at 6-under-par for the tournament. Grace enters the final round seeking her first AJGA Invitational title.
Carter and Grace enter the final round three strokes behind leader Asterisk Talley.
Nicole Tang of Bellevue, Washington, sits alone in fourth place at 4-under-par 140. Tang posted back-to-back rounds of 2-under-par 70 and will begin the final round five strokes off the lead.
The final round of the Hilton Grand Vacations ANNIKA Invitational presented by Rolex will take place at The Golf Club of Georgia on Sunday, October 11. Play will begin with a shotgun start at 11:30 a.m. ET.
For more information or photo requests, please contact AJGA Communications Manager - Lily Joyce