Victory in Georgia

Cobbtown, Ga. — Vanderbilt women’s golf defeated Georgia Southern in a match-play event on Thursday by a score of 3-1-1. The one-day, five-player competition was held at Ohoopee Golf Club. 

“Today was a nice little confidence boost and a great learning experience getting a match-play win against a good Georgia Southern team on one of the coolest golf courses we’ll ever play,” said head coach Greg Allen.

Lynn Lim, Sara Im, and Ava Merrill were the three Commodores who won their matchups, bringing home the victory for Vanderbilt after a day of rain delays. 

“I’m proud of how we handled the day,” said Allen. “Not getting to play a practice round and then having a five-hour weather delay, I thought we showed a lot of patience.” 

Lim clinched a point for the Dores when she went 4-up through 15 holes on the Eagles’ Karlee Vardas. With a par on hole No. 16, Im earned a 4&2 win over Louise Reau, securing another matchup for the Dores. Merrill outlasted Jiarui Chen down the stretch to take the win at 2-up after the penultimate hole. 

“Lynn and Sara did a great job of going out early and getting two points on the board for us, and Ava came through in the anchor match for us,” said Allen.

Angelina Tolentino and her opponent Regina Plascencia went back and forth all day. Tolentino found herself down two holes with three remaining, but a late surge allowed her to pull even through hole No. 18. She carded a 68 on the day. 

“Angelina showed a lot of toughness by hanging in there to tie her match by winning two of the last three holes,” said Allen. “Tillie [Claggett] played pretty good golf but ran into a buzz saw.”

Claggett dropped her matchup by a score of 5&4 to Mary Miller. 

“My hope is this day will help us come match play time in the postseason,” said Allen.

The Commodores return to action at the annual Darius Rucker Invitational beginning March 3 at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.