Emma Schimpf takes Dixie Women's Amateur title in a playoff

December 18, 2022 | by Jim Young of AmateurGolf.com

Emma Schimpf (College of Charleston Athletics photo)

The College of Charleston sophomore prevails after a wild ending at Palm Aire Country Club

While two players seemingly had one hand on the trophy late in the final round of the Dixie Women's Amateur, it was a third who clutched it tightly after the dust settled at Palm Aire Country Club in Pompano Beach, Fla.

Emma Schimpf, a sophomore at the College of Charleston, defeated Duke commit Katie Li in a playoff to win a championship that seemed was going to elude her, despite turning in a scintillating back nine en route to a final round 3-under 68.

Playing alongside Li and 54-hole leader Kary Hollenbaugh, Schimpf got red-hot down the stretch and birdied holes 12, 14 and 16 to get to 9-under for the tournament.

Emma Schimpf (R)

Hollenbaugh, a freshman at Ohio State who began the day with a two-stroke lead on the field, still had a grip on the trophy after she birdied the par 4 14th to move to 10-under, but let the title - and a spot in the eventual playoff - slip away after bogeys on 16 and 18 left her at 8-under 276.

Li also had a chance to win the title in regulation after a birdie on the par-5 16th moved her to 10-under but slipped back into a playoff with Schimpf after a bogey on the last left her at 9-under and the end of regulation.

After the players twice matched pars on Palm Aire's 18th hole, Schimpf claimed the title with a bogey to Li's double on the third go-around.

"I really enjoyed playing in this event and it was a real test of my game with my ball striking not being at 100 percent," said Schimpf. "My short game stayed strong and putting definitely held me in there, I stayed patient the whole tournament along with keeping a good attitude. It’s a great way to end the 2022 golf season."

It's Schimpf's third win since October after a first-place finish at the Evie Odom Invitational in Virginia Beach and earning co-medalist honors at the Edisto Island Invitational. She is currently ranked 37th nationally in the Golfweek/Sagarin individual rankings.

Alice Ziyi Zhao, who was the co-medalist at the U.S. Women's Amateur in August, birdied three of her last five holes for a final round 68 to gain a share of third place with Hollenbaugh at 8-under.

Results: Dixie Women's Amateur

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Emma Schimpf	Daniel Island, SC	500	67-70-70-68=275
2	Katie Li	Basking Ridge, NJ	400	68-68-71-68=275
T3	Alice Ziyi Zhao	Irvine, CA	300	69-68-71-68=276
T3	Kary Hollenbaugh	New Albany, OH	300	66-68-71-71=276
T5	Siuue Wu	Reunion, FL	300	71-73-68-70=282

View full results for Dixie Women's Amateur

About the Dixie Women's Amateur

Emma Schimpf takes Dixie Women's Amateur title in a playoff

72-hole stroke invitational women's stroke play championship. Field consists of former Dixie Amateur Champions, and women from around the world invited by the Tournament Committee. (You may request an invitation at www.dixieamateur.com). Tournament t...