ROYAL OAK, Mich. – Houston junior Maelynn Kim and incoming Vanderbilt freshman Elizabeth Rudisill will square off for the 125th Women’s Western Amateur title on Saturday morning at Red Run Golf Club.
The 20-year-old Kim earned her spot in the final with a comeback win in Friday’s semifinal, defeating College of Charleston’s Emma Schimpf, 2 and 1. Two down through 10 holes, Kim surged by winning four straight to take control and close out the match.
Competing in her first Women’s Western Amateur, Kim has pieced together a standout run, knocking off three of the top 75 players in the Women’s Amateur Golf Ranking (No. 55 Macy Pate, No. 22 Kary Hollenbaugh and No. 72 Elise Lee). Her Round of 32 match against Pate went 22 holes.
“I just started playing a little more aggressively,” Kim said. “I kept telling myself I had the grit, especially after such a long match earlier in the week.”
The Katy, Texas, native says her long practice days are starting to translate in competition.
“I’ve worked really hard this summer, and it’s rewarding to see that effort pay off,” she said. “I’ve spent so many hours on the golf course, and I’m proud of how hard I’ve worked.”
Kim also credited her mother, who’s been on the bag all week, for keeping her steady under pressure.
“This is one of those tournaments where she’s really in it with me,” Kim said, fighting back tears. “She travels everywhere with me, and I’m so thankful she’s here.”
Heading into the final, Kim kept her approach simple: “Relax and breathe.”
Rudisill was equally dominant in her semifinal match, defeating Brooke Biermann of Wildwood, Missouri, 4 and 3. Rudisill won five of the first eight holes and never let Biermann back into the match. Biermann had eliminated top-seeded co-medalist Farah O’Keefe – the defending champion – in the Round of 16.
“It’s been an amazing week,” Rudisill said. “I love this golf course, and the tournament has been set up perfectly. I’m confident off the tee, and the chipping conditions really suit my game. I’m excited for the final.”
Rudisill will once again rely on her local Red Run caddie, who’s been on the bag for all four match-play wins and the 36-hole stroke-play qualifier.
“He’s been at the club since he was 13 or 14, so he knows the course inside and out,” she said. “We’re about the same age, so it’s a really relaxed vibe. When I start to feel nervous, we just talk about random things. He’s been great with club selection, especially with how windy it’s been.”
Although she has yet to play a collegiate event, the 18-year-old Rudisill brings a wealth of big-stage experience. Her track record includes appearances at the Wyndham Cup, North & South Women’s Amateur, U.S. Women’s Amateur and The Nelly Invitational.
“Playing the Wyndham Cup last week helped a lot with the match-play mindset,” she said. “All the Elite Amateur Series tournaments I’ve played have helped me understand that one bad tee shot isn’t the end of the world. You just stay in it.”
Rudisill plans to stick to her strategy for the championship.
“One shot at a time and swing with no fear,” she said. “Getting off the tee is huge for me. If I’m solid off the tee, I feel confident. Even this morning, when I wasn’t hitting it great, I reminded myself that my iron play can still get me out of trouble.”
The final match is set for 7:30 a.m. ET Saturday, with two promising young players set to battle for the title.
To view the match play bracket, click here.
Held without interruption since 1901, the Women’s Western Amateur is among the oldest and most prestigious annual championships in women’s amateur golf. The tournament is conducted jointly by the Women’s Western Golf Association and the Western Golf Association.
The championship features the top amateur and collegiate players from across the globe. The winner at Red Run this week will join a list of past champions that includes legendary stars Patty Berg, Louise Suggs and Nancy Lopez as well as modern standouts like Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lang, Stacy Lewis and Ariya Jutanugarn.
Attendance and parking for the Women’s Western Amateur are free.
Round of 32 Results
Thursday, July 17, 2025
Upper Bracket
Farah O’Keefe, Austin, Texas, def. Madison Murr, Los Alamitos, Calif., 5 and 3
Brooke Biermann, Wildwood, Mo., def. Grace Kilcrease, Springdale, Ark., 2 and 1
Ella Scaysbrook, Australia, def. Riana Mission, Las Vegas, Nev., 6 and 5
Pimkwan Chookaew, Thailand, def. Jazy Roberts, Australia, 6 and 5
Huai-Chien Hsu, Taiwan, def. Yijia Ren, China, 3 and 2
Honorine Nobuta Ferry, Flower Mound, Texas, def. Bentley Cotton, Austin, Texas, 5 and 4
Taylor Kehoe, Canada, def. Suzie Tran, Poulsbo, Wash., 19 holes
Elizabeth Rudisill, Charlotte, N.C., def. Addison Klonowski, Naples, Fla., 19 holes
Lower Bracket
Megan Streicher, South Africa, def. Pimchompoo Chaisilprungruang, Thailand, 5 and 4
Elise Lee, Irvine, Calif., def. Olivia Duan, Cupertino, Calif., 4 and 3
Kary Hollenbaugh, New Albany, Ohio, def. Gabriella Nicastro, Huntsville, Ala., 2 up
Maelynn Kim, Katy, Texas, def. Macy Pate, Winston-Salem, N.C., 22 holes
Kaitlyn Zermeño Smith, Covina, Calif., def. Reagan Chaney, Ardmore, Okla., 2 and 1
Emma Schimpf, Daniel Island, S.C., def. Sydney Roberts, Chesnee, S.C., 2 and 1
Kylee Choi, Murrieta, Calif., def. Casey Weidenfeld, Pembroke Pines, Fla., 5 and 3
Ashleen Kaur, Cypress, Texas, def. Isabella Goyette, Medina, Ohio, 3 and 2
Sweet 16 Results
Thursday, July 17, 2025
Upper Bracket
Biermann def. O’Keefe, 5 and 4
Chookaew def. Scaysbrook, 2 up
Hsu def. Nobuta Ferry, 3 and 1
Rudisill def. Kehoe, 1 up
Lower Bracket
Lee def. Streicher, 5 and 4
Kim def. Hollenbaugh, 4 and 2
Schimpf def. Zermeño Smith, 1 up
Choi def. Kaur, 4 and 2
Quarterfinal Results
Friday, July 18, 2025
Upper Bracket
Biermann def. Chookaew, 1 up
Rudisill def. Hsu, 2 up
Lower Bracket
Kim def. Lee, 1 up
Schimpf def. Choi, 19 holes
Semifinal Results
Friday, July 18, 2025
Rudisill def. Biermann, 4 and 3
Kim def. Schimpf, 2 and 1