Lim dominates in Women's Amateur title defense

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — To have the lead on the 54th hole of an event is all one needs to take home the title. Lynn Lim, however, has led the Tennessee Women’s Amateur for 108 straight holes to capture her second straight title. The Gallatin native is the first repeat champion since Rachel Smith in 2004-2005. 

“I’ve been having a lot of fun playing golf recently,” Lim said. “I’m really comfortable with where my game is right now so it’s nice to see it translate onto the course.”

After finishing runner-up at the Tennessee Women’s Match Play Championship the week prior, Lim came out firing in the first round of the Women’s Amateur. Her 5-under 67 gave her a three-shot lead headed to the second day, picking up right where she left off in 2022 down in Memphis.

Scoring was higher pretty much across the board on day two as the wind held strong throughout the day with sporadic rain. While Lim finished 2-over-par for the day, she still held a five-stroke lead headed into the final round.

The reigning SEC Freshman of the Year put the pedal to the metal in the final round. A birdie on the first hole set the tone for Lim as she distance herself from the field. She made the turn 3-under for the day with a commanding five-shot lead and continued to outpace everyone else at Clarksville Country Club. Even with a bogey on the 18th hole on Thursday, Lim finished as the only competitor under-par, winning by nine strokes.

“I feel like there’s a little bit of pressure coming into the tournament as the defending champion,” Lim said after hoisting the Scott S. Probasco trophy for the second-straight year. “But once you hit your first tee shot, all of that melts away and you’re just focused on your next shot.”

Lim wasn’t without any pressure during the week. Three different competitors surged on separate days to give the defending champ a run for her money.

On day one, it was Clarksville-native McKinley Cunningham who was the only other player in the field to shoot under-par on Tuesday. Her 2-under 70 had her just three shots back heading into the second day.

In round two, it was former Mississippi State golfer Valeria Mendizabal making the leap to the lead group. After a first-round 79, Mendizabal had a blemish-free 5-under-par 67 as she took advantage of moving day. The Nashville resident finished tied for third with a 3-over-par 219.

Round three’s pressure came in the form of UT-Chattanooga’s Dorota Zalewska, who had been lurking in the top 10 throughout the week. She rattled off five birdies on the front nine to keep Lim within reach as they came down the stretch. She finished second place with a 1-over-par 217.

Incoming Ole Miss freshman Sophie Linder, fresh off her defeat of Lim at the Tennessee Women’s Match Play Championship, got better throughout the week, shooting a 75-73-71 to finish tied for third. With her finish in Clarksville, she now has a commanding lead in the Girls’ Junior Player of the Year points.

In the flighted division, 13-year-old Addisyn Newman repeated as the First Flight winner, edging out Susan Miller by two strokes. The Second Flight went to Amy Haag-Newbill who finished three shots ahead of Dena Bower. The Third Flight was won in a scorecard playoff by Clarksville’s Sun Swanson after tying through 54 holes with Carol Gouty.

For full results from the 91st Tennessee Women’s Amateur Championship, click here.