A dozen players have won consecutive U.S. Women’s Amateur trophies, though the last to do so, Danielle Kang, won her second of back-to-back titles 14 years ago.

Rianne Malixi could add herself to that list Sunday at Bandon Dunes.

Malixi, the Philippines star who won not only last year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur at Southern Hills but also the U.S. Girls’ Junior a few weeks prior, opened her title defense of the former with a 4-under 68 Monday on Bandon’s namesake layout on the Oregon coast. Malixi’s first-round score was matched by fellow co-leaders, Arizona’s Julia Misemer and Texas’ Cindy Hsu.

Malixi’s defense almost was over before it started. She had been awaiting approval of her student visa – the 18-year-old will start her college career at Duke later this month – when a typhoon delaye

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