It was an exciting finish at the 96th Carolinas Women’s Amateur Championship as 15-year-old Madison Messimer of Myrtle Beach, S.C. hoisted the trophy after a nail-biting playoff victory. Messimer went head-to-head with College of Charleston’s Mary Kathryn Talledo of Spartanburg, S.C. in a one-hole playoff after the pair finished at 2-under-par 214.

“I was excited and a little bit nervous coming in,” Messimer said. “I wanted to start out strong, finish strong and make as many putts as possible.”

Messimer was steady all week, carding rounds of 73-70-71 to finish at 2-under-par for the championship. Heading into the final round, Mary Kathryn Talledo held a 4-stroke lead over Messimer after an impressive opening round of 7-under-par 65 and a second-round 74. Talledo maintained her lead throughout the final round, but Messimer also maintained her steady play.

On the 17th tee, Talledo held a five-stroke lead and had the championship within her grasp. However, things took an unfortunate turn when Talledo made a triple bogey on the tough 387-yard Par-4. While Talledo was struggling, Messimer sunk a birdie putt, resulting in a 4-shot swing on the leaderboard. The pair stepped onto the 18th tee and Messimer seized the momentum.

“Honestly, when I was going into No. 17, I didn’t know that I was down five strokes and I hit a great drive,” Messimer said. “I hit my second shot to about six feet and then made the putt for birdie.”

On No. 18, Messimer hit her approach to within birdie range and had a putt to win the championship outright after Talledo bogeyed her final hole. Messimer missed the putt on the high side and with a tie at the top of the leaderboard, the championship headed into a sudden-death playoff on No. 18.

“I have been in playoffs before. I was really nervous, but I have won every playoff I have been in so that made me feel better,” Messimer said. “I just wanted to do the same thing that I did when I played No. 18 the first time, but make the birdie putt.”

Similar to her play all week, Messimer remained steady during the playoff. Her drive found the center of the fairway, her second shot was in perfect position and her wedge into the Par-5 gave her a chance to redeem her missed birdie attempt from moments before. After a perfect drive and an impressive approach to the front fringe, Talledo seemed to have the advantage. However, Talledo had some trouble with the signature Yeamans Hall Club false front on No. 18 green and after two chips, she had a short par putt while Messimer stared down another birdie opportunity. With a second chance at victory on the line, Messimer sank the birdie putt, sealing her title as the 96th Carolinas Women’s Amateur champion.

“It was breaking right. It was the exact same putt I had when I first played 18, but it was just a little longer,” Messimer said. “I missed it on the high side the first time, so I just aimed it in the same spot and it went in this time.”

When asked what this victory means to her, Messimer acknowledged her fellow competitors while recognizing that hard work pays off. “It means a lot, because all of the players are really good,” Messimer said. “I’ve worked so hard so it is great that it is paying off.”

Sophia Burnett of Bluffton, S.C came in third place finishing at 216, even-par for the week. In fourth place, Chloe Holder of Williamston, S.C. finished with a 1-over-par, 217 and Alexia Siehl of Fort Mill, S.C. finished in fifth place at 2-over-par, 218.

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