AU frosh Chloe Holder wins Mercedes-Benz Invitational golf tourney in Tennessee

By Chris Rickerson | Sports Editor

Augusta University freshman Chloe Holder won the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate women’s golf tournament in Knoxville, Tenn., on Tuesday, Sept. 21. 

“It was so exciting to be able to win my first college tournament, especially as a freshman,” said Holder. “I went into the golf tournament with no expectations on myself. I knew that if I just went out to have fun and enjoy the whole experience then I would do well.”

The tournament was a two-day event with two rounds being played on Monday, Sept.20, and the final round played on Tuesday. Coach Carolina Hegg’s Jaguars, led by Holder, stayed in the hunt through all three rounds.

In the first round, Holder was tied for 17th, shooting a 71. She bounced back the next round, shooting her lowest round of tournament a 67 and was tied for second going into day two, the final round of the event. 

Holder won the tournament by 4 strokes with a final score of 6-under par, shooting a 69 in the last round. Esme Hamilton and Dorota Zalewska finished tied for second with a final score of 2-under par. 

“I have been in that situation before in junior golf, so using that experience helped me stay calm,” Holder. “I just told myself that there was a lot of golf to play and to not get ahead of myself. The support of my dad, Coach Caroline, my swing coach and my teammates really drove me to do my best and get the win.”

This marks the first win by an individual Jaguar women’s golfer in a collegiate tournament since 2017 when Jessica Haigwood won the 3M Augusta Invitational. 

The Jaguars (+12) as team finished tied for third overall in the tournament with the University of Texas at San Antonio and Chattanooga University. Brigham Young University (+2) finished first overall ahead of the University of Miami (+5). 

Freshman Kennedy Carroll (+2) was second behind Holder for the Jaguars, finishing tied for 12th overall. Napabhach Boon-In (+3), Mary Hunt Murray (+13) and Natalia Yoko (+15) rounded out the Jaguars for the tournament. 

The next event for the Jaguars takes place Sept. 24- 26 in Greenville, S.C. on Furman Golf Course for the Lady Paladin.  

Contact Chris Rickerson at crickerson@augusta.edu.