Maelynn Kim Claims Women’s Western Amateur Championship Title

Royal Oak, Michigan – The University of Houston’s Maelynn Kim has emerged victorious at the Women’s Western Amateur Championship, achieving a 1-up triumph against Elizabeth Rudisill in the championship match held at Red Run Golf Club.

Championship Match Highlights

In the final showdown, Kim established an early lead, going 2-up after just four holes by successfully making pars on the third and fourth holes. Maintaining her momentum, she extended her lead to 3-up with a solid par on the 13th hole. Despite losing the 14th, she regained her three-hole advantage with another par at 15.

Rudisill fought back, winning consecutive holes at 16 and 17, which prompted a nail-biting finish at the 18th. Both competitors ended the match with birdies on the final hole, securing the championship for Kim.

Summer Success

This championship victory marks Kim’s second summer tournament win. Earlier in June, she clinched the title at the Southern Amateur Championship with a 2-and-1 victory over Alise Knudson at Squire Creek Country Club in Louisiana.

Addiitionally, incoming Houston freshman Sadie Adams showcased her talent by winning the English Stroke Play Championship with an impressive 6-under-par score of 286 at Alwoodley Golf Club in Leeds, England.

Path to the Championship

Kim entered the Women’s Western Amateur Championship as the No. 23 seed after scoring an even-par total of 144 across the stroke play rounds, including a standout first-round score of 69.

• Defeated Macy Pate in the Round of 32 after trailing by 3 holes through 14; won three of the last four holes to force extra play.
• Secured a 3-up victory against Kary Hollenbaugh in the Round of 16.
• In the Quarterfinals, halved her match with Elise Lee through 17, before making a birdie on the 18th to advance.
• In the Semifinals, rebounded from 2 down through 11 to win four consecutive holes for a 2-and-1 victory over Emma Schimpf.

About Maelynn Kim

As a sophomore in the 2024-25 season, Kim has been a key player for the Houston Cougars, participating in all 11 team-scoring events. She achieved two Top-10 finishes and five Top-20 placements, ranking second among her teammates with 16 rounds of par or better, which included five sub-70 rounds. Her scoring average stood at 73.13.

One of her notable performances came with a sixth-place finish at the Riverbend Intercollegiate, where she contributed significantly to the Cougars’ team championship victory.

Support Houston Women’s Golf

Fans can directly contribute to the success of Houston Women’s Golf by supporting the Linking Coogs initiative and joining the P.A.R. 4 Club, which provides financial resources beyond the operating budget for the team.

Stay Connected

For the latest updates on the Houston Women’s Golf team, follow @UHCougarWGolf on X and like their Facebook page at UHCougarWGolf or find them on Instagram at UHCougarWGolf.