Sunday, September 21
Franklin, Tenn.
Mississippi State
vs
Mason Rudolph Championship
Samantha Whateley Earns First Collegiate Tournament Win at Mason Rudolph Championship
September 21, 2025 | Women's Golf
FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Samantha Whateley earned her first collegiate tournament win at the Mason Rudolph Championship on Sunday with a three-day total of 204 (-9).
Whateley, a junior from Johannesburg, South Africa, had a career-week at Vanderbilt Legends' Club. She shot 69-67-68 throughout the duration of the tournament. It marked the first time Whateley fired off three rounds in the 60s in a single tournament and only the second time she shot under par in all three rounds of a tournament.
Whateley's third round saw a scorecard with no blemishes, as she collected three birdies en route to her 3-under round. She was the only golfer in the 90-player field to shoot under par in all three days of the tournament.
Whateley becomes the 15th Bulldog to ever win an individual title in the Maroon and White. With her victory, a Mississippi State Bulldog has won at least one individual title in five consecutive seasons, the longest streak in program history. She also becomes the second Bulldog to win the Mason Rudolph Championship in as many years after teammate Avery Weed won the individual title last season.
As a team, the Bulldogs finished the Mason Rudolph Championship in second at 13-under after being overtaken in the final round by the hosts, Vanderbilt, who finished 15-under. The Commodores and the Bulldogs were the only two teams to finish the tournament under par and were also the only two to shoot under par in more than one round in the tournament. The next closest team on the leaderboard was North Carolina, who finished 6-over.
Two other Bulldogs finished inside the top 10 individually during the Mason Rudolph Championship. The first was the aforementioned Weed, who wrapped up the tournament at 4-under par. She shot 1-under in the final round of action, earning her fifth-career top five finish after tying for fourth.
In her first collegiate tournament, freshman Ines Belchior exploded onto the scene, as she finished tied for 9th at 2-under par. She became the first Bulldog to finish under par in their debut in 2021 when now LPGA Tour member Julia Lopez Ramirez did such at the Sam Golden Invitational in 2021.
The Bulldogs will return to action alongside the men's program on September 29 for the Blessings Collegiate Invitational, hosted by Arkansas, which will conclude on October 1.
Mason Rudolph Championship Leaderboard
1. Vanderbilt, -15
2. Mississippi State, -13
3. North Carolina, +6
4. Arizona State, +8
5. Baylor, +11
6. Indiana, +17
7. Clemson, +18
T8. Louisville, Charleston, +30
10. Western Kentucky, +37
11. Chattanooga, +39
12. ULM, +41
13. Richmond, +49
14. Middle Tennessee, +53
15. Lipscomb, +55
16. Georgia Southern, +63
*Competing Individually
^Lowest Opening Round in Mason Rudolph Championship History
Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on women's golf. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateWG' on X, Facebook and Instagram.
Whateley, a junior from Johannesburg, South Africa, had a career-week at Vanderbilt Legends' Club. She shot 69-67-68 throughout the duration of the tournament. It marked the first time Whateley fired off three rounds in the 60s in a single tournament and only the second time she shot under par in all three rounds of a tournament.
Whateley's third round saw a scorecard with no blemishes, as she collected three birdies en route to her 3-under round. She was the only golfer in the 90-player field to shoot under par in all three days of the tournament.
Whateley becomes the 15th Bulldog to ever win an individual title in the Maroon and White. With her victory, a Mississippi State Bulldog has won at least one individual title in five consecutive seasons, the longest streak in program history. She also becomes the second Bulldog to win the Mason Rudolph Championship in as many years after teammate Avery Weed won the individual title last season.
As a team, the Bulldogs finished the Mason Rudolph Championship in second at 13-under after being overtaken in the final round by the hosts, Vanderbilt, who finished 15-under. The Commodores and the Bulldogs were the only two teams to finish the tournament under par and were also the only two to shoot under par in more than one round in the tournament. The next closest team on the leaderboard was North Carolina, who finished 6-over.
Two other Bulldogs finished inside the top 10 individually during the Mason Rudolph Championship. The first was the aforementioned Weed, who wrapped up the tournament at 4-under par. She shot 1-under in the final round of action, earning her fifth-career top five finish after tying for fourth.
In her first collegiate tournament, freshman Ines Belchior exploded onto the scene, as she finished tied for 9th at 2-under par. She became the first Bulldog to finish under par in their debut in 2021 when now LPGA Tour member Julia Lopez Ramirez did such at the Sam Golden Invitational in 2021.
The Bulldogs will return to action alongside the men's program on September 29 for the Blessings Collegiate Invitational, hosted by Arkansas, which will conclude on October 1.
1. Vanderbilt, -15
2. Mississippi State, -13
3. North Carolina, +6
4. Arizona State, +8
5. Baylor, +11
6. Indiana, +17
7. Clemson, +18
T8. Louisville, Charleston, +30
10. Western Kentucky, +37
11. Chattanooga, +39
12. ULM, +41
13. Richmond, +49
14. Middle Tennessee, +53
15. Lipscomb, +55
16. Georgia Southern, +63
| Mississippi State | |||||
| Name | Place | Rd. 1 | Rd. 2 | Rd. 3 | +/- |
| Avery Weed | T4 | 67, -4 | 72, +1 | 70, -1 | -4 |
| Moa Stridh | T49 | 66, -5 | 77, +6 | 81, +10 | +11 |
| Samantha Whateley | 1 | 69, -2 | 67, -4 | 68, -3 | -6 |
| Izzy Pellot | T30 | 70, -1 | 70, -1 | 79, +8 | +6 |
| Ines Belchior | T9 | 66, -5 | 74, +3 | 71, E | -2 |
| Harper Hinckley* | T9 | 76, +5 | 82, +11 | 82, +11 | +27 |
| TEAM | 2 | 268, -16^ | 283, -1 | 288, +4 | -13 |
^Lowest Opening Round in Mason Rudolph Championship History
Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on women's golf. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateWG' on X, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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