NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt women’s golf returns to the links this weekend to compete in the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational at Finley Golf Club in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The 6,081-yard, par-70 course recently hosted a 2024 NCAA Men’s Regional.
“We are super excited to get back in action this weekend after a couple really good weeks at home,” said head coach Greg Allen. “The girls have been playing really well, so I know they’re ready to compete again.”
The Vanderbilt lineup will remain similar to the two tournaments already played this season. Sophomores Sara Im and Ava Merrill lead the Commodore charge joined by juniors Tillie Claggett and Lynn Lim. Freshman Angelina Tolentino rounds out the Vanderbilt five.
“It’s been a couple years since we’ve been to Chapel Hill, so no one on this team has played Finley,” said Allen. “In fact, they have completely redone the course since Coach Meason and I were there last year, so it will be a new look for us as well.”
Although their most recent appearance was in 2021, the Commodores have a long history in Chapel Hill. They have competed in the Tar Heel Invitational 18 times and won the title in 2006. Vanderbilt’s best finish under Greg Allen was runner-up in 2013, the same year the Dores won the SEC Championship and an NCAA Regional.
This weekend’s field consists of 17 squads, with five GOLFWEEK Preseason Top 30 teams—No. 7 Wake Forest, No. 16 Duke, No. 24 Michigan State, No. 26 Kentucky, and No. 27 Vanderbilt—in the mix. The rest of the schools appearing include North Carolina, East Carolina, FIU, Louisville, Michigan, NC State, UNCG, UNCW, Rollins College, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and Western Carolina.
“As always, our focus will be controlling the things we can and playing with great effort and a positive attitude,” said Allen.
Vanderbilt will take the tee alongside Michigan State and Tennessee at 8:20 a.m. CT on Friday. Live scoring for the event can be found HERE.
