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 ...
