PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Vanderbilt women’s golf started the season with a bang this weekend, taking home the Carmel Cup title thanks to a 3-over par team performance on Sunday.
The Commodores came from behind to pass Saturday leader Mississippi State and eventually beat out Arkansas by two strokes in the final round. It is Vanderbilt’s first victory at the annual Pebble Beach Golf Club event and first season-opener win since the 2019 Cougar Classic.
Junior Lynn Lim led the way for Vanderbilt on Sunday with a third-round, 3-under-par 69 finish to her weekend and tie for seventh overall.
The day came down to Vanderbilt freshman Angelina Tolentino, who capped off an incredibly consistent debut weekend with a final round 1-under-par 71 to tie for fourth individually. Tolentino sunk a birdie putt on the legendary 18th hole at Pebble Beach to complete the comeback victory for Vanderbilt. Her 3-under-par, top-five finish is the first by a Vanderbilt golfer in her debut since Auston Kim’s 8-under third place at the 2018 Cougar Classic.
“What a really cool day for our program,” said head coach Greg Allen. “A come-from-behind win with a freshman making the winning putt on the 18th green at Pebble Beach – I couldn’t be more proud of these young ladies with how they hung in there and played with a lot of determination today.”
Tolentino’s fourth place and Lim’s seventh-place finishes were not the only top-10 performances on the board for the Dores. Sara Im earned the first of her career, carding a 2-under 70 on Sunday to climb to 10th. Charlene Chung and Ava Merrill both tied for 22nd individually this weekend. Chung shot a final round 76 and Merrill a 77. Tillie Claggett carded an 82-stroke third round.
“We got sloppy on 14 and 15 but made some big putts coming down the stretch,” said Allen. “Angelina played like a seasoned veteran all weekend and especially today, and what great rounds from Lynn and Sara. Those were huge for us today.”
The win at Pebble Beach was the first for the Commodores in their third trip to the Carmel Cup, finishing eighth in 2022 and fourth in 2023.
“It’s really special to win this tournament, not only because it’s at Pebble Beach, but also because it’s hosted by Fin Ewing and his family,” said Allen. “He has done so much for Vanderbilt golf the last 13-14 years and is a dear friend to both coach Limbaugh and I.”
Vanderbilt will return to the course later this month to host the annual Mason Rudolph Championship. The Commodore squad will look to defend their title from last year at their home event while also attempting to earn back-to-back wins for the first time in five years.
