The ceremonial trophy Madison Messimer received for winning the CGA Women’s Amateur championship is almost as big as the 15 year old golfer.

Finishing in front of the field which included dozens of outstanding college golfers from the Carolinas was an accomplishment that even dwarfed the big trophy.

“It means a lot, because all of the players are really good,” said Messimer. “I’ve worked so hard so it is great that it is paying off,” she said.

College of Charleston rising sophomore MK Talledo from Spartanburg set the pace early with an impressive 7-under par 65 in the first round.

“On this golf course I was just trying to hit the middle of the fairway, the middle of the green and if the putt fell awesome and if it didn’t just take the par and move on,” said Talledo.

Messimer opened with a 1-over par 73 leaving her 8-shots out of the lead and behind a half a dozen golfers who posted better first round scores.

College of Charleston’s Emma Schimpf and incoming Clemson freshman Sydney Roberts were tied for second at 71.

In the second round Talledo gave a few strokes back to the field carding a 2-over par 74 while Messimer shot a 2-under par 70 to move up to second place, 4-shots behind the leader.

Also in the second round Augusta State’s Chloe Holder from Anderson shot a 71 to move into contention.

The Sunland Conference freshman of the year was in third place going into the final round.

Talledo’s lead shrunk quickly near the end of her round while Messimer played steady to catch up on the final hole.

The high school golfer came close to winning the tournament on her final hole, but her birdie attempt slid by the hole sending the two golfers back to the 18th tee for a playoff.

“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.

On the 18th green Messimer had a similar putt to the one she missed in regulation.

“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,” she said.

The birdie putt won the playoff and earned Messimer the Carolinas championship.

Before she started the tournament at Yeamans Hall in Charleston she recalled she was a little nervous.

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

After the top-two golfers Furman’s Sophia Burnett from Bluffton finished with a 3-under par 69 to claim third place.

While the Myrtle Beach golfer is three or four years younger than many of the players she finished in front of, winning a big tournaments is nothing new for Messimer.

She has quickly compiled an impressive junior record before stepping up to play with older and more experienced golfers.

As a high school golfer at Myrtle Beach she was the 2021 AAAA state champion and was also the Women’s South Carolina Golf Association junior champion.

Messimer finished fifth in last year’s CGA Girls championship and added several top-10s in the Twin State, Vikki DiSantis, Junior Heritage and the Beth Daniel Junior Azalea to name just a few.

She was ranked fourth in the Heritage Foundation Junior Girls Ranking in South Carolina and surely will move up after the win.

With so many college golfers entered into the championship the CGA began the Collegiate Cup tournament within the tournament last year.

This year the Cup was won by the College of Charleston posting the two lowest combined scores of runner-up Talledo and her Cougar teammate Smith Knaffle, who finished tied for seventh.

Scores from the CGA Women’s Amateur championship https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/3455617