NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt women’s golf captured its fifth Mason Rudolph Championship at Vanderbilt Legends Club on Sunday, executing an eight-stroke comeback in the final 18 holes. The Commodores closed the tournament with a 6-under-par final round to end 15-under over 54 holes.
“What a day and what a great comeback,” head coach Greg Allen exclaimed. “It’s not always easy to play at home and our girls handled it very well. I’m so proud of how we never once stopped competing this weekend.”
Four Commodores finished within the individual top six this weekend, led by Ava Merrill who finished runner-up. Merrill capped off a 6-under tournament total with a 1-over-par 72 on Sunday. Her back-to-back birdies on No. 17 and 18 sealed the comeback for Vanderbilt over Mississippi State.
Elizabeth Rudisill earned her first top-five finish as a Commodore, tying for fourth individually with a 5-under-par 66 final round. Rudisill holed out for eagle on the par-4 8th hole and nailed another on the par-5 18th for her third of the weekend.
“This was such a great team effort, and we got big rounds today from Rudy and Tillie,” said Allen. “We stayed patient and knew we had three par 5s to play coming down the stretch and we played them 8-under.”
Tillie Claggett carded a 3-under-par final round 68, holing six birdies on her way to a sixth-place individual finish. Competing as an individual, Angelina Tolentino went 2-over on the final 18 to bring her tournament total to 3-under par, tying for sixth as well.
Kathryn Ha finished 13th individually and went 1-over-par with a birdie on No. 18 in Sunday’s final round. Lynn Lim fought off a tough start to post a 76 to round out the lineup. Other Commodore individuals were Jayden Jevnick with a 78 and Macie Brown with an 82.
Vanderbilt’s victory marks its second Mason Rudolph title in the past three years. The Commodores’ three-day total of 837 strokes is the lowest 54-hole score in program history at the event. The Dores led the field with 4 eagles, 59 birdies, and a 4.62 par-5 average. Five Commodores finished with double-digit birdies.
The Commodores edged ahead of Mississippi State on Sunday by two strokes, while North Carolina finished third, 21 shots back. Mississippi State’s Sam Whateley claimed the individual title at 9-under par.
“We are very grateful to the staff at Legends for all the long hours they have put in the past two weeks,” said Allen. “They hosted a successful…
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