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.
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.