If you were watching the Golf Channel this past October, you saw something that felt less like a mid-season collegiate tournament and more like a Sunday at a major. The 2025 East Lake Cup wasn't just another stop on the fall calendar. It was cold. It was wet.
Honestly, it was a bit of a grind.
Atlanta in late October can be fickle, and East Lake Golf Club—the historic home of Bobby Jones—didn’t offer many favors to the players. By the time Wednesday’s finals rolled around, the beanies and hand warmers were out in full force. We saw the Florida men and Oregon women claw their way to titles in conditions that would make most casual golfers head straight for the clubhouse bar.
What Really Happened with the 2025 East Lake Cup
You’ve got to look at the Parker Bell match to understand why this tournament was special. Bell, a sophomore for the Florida Gators, found himself 4-up with just five holes to play against Virginia's Ben James. In most worlds, that's a wrap. You start thinking about where you’re going for dinner.
But Ben James is the No. 1 ranked amateur in the world for a reason.
James went on an absolute tear, birdieing four of the final five holes. He turned a blowout into a heart-stopper. Bell had to match him birdie-for-birdie on 17 and 18 just to survive. When Bell sank that 10-foot putt on the 18th green to win 1-up, it wasn't just a point. It was revenge for Florida’s loss to Virginia in the 2024 NCAA semifinals.
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The Gators took the match 3-2. It was their first-ever East Lake Cup title, and you could tell by the way head coach J.C. Deacon was celebrating that this one felt personal.
The Ducks Find Their Groove
Over on the women’s side, the Oregon Ducks were putting on a clinical performance. They were the top seed, but match play is a different beast. They faced Northwestern, the reigning NCAA champions, in the final.
It wasn't particularly close.
The Ducks rolled to a 4-1 victory. Freshman Sophie Han got things moving early with a 5&4 win over Ashley Yun. Then you had Kiara Romero—another top-tier amateur—sealing the deal on the 16th. Oregon coach Derek Radley had been to this tournament three times before. He joked that "third time's a charm," and honestly, the way his team played in the wind, it looked more like skill than luck.
The Individual Champions and a Rain-Shortened Start
The tournament actually started under a bit of a cloud—literally.
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Monday’s stroke play, which determines the seeding for the match play brackets, was hammered by weather. It ended up being a rain-shortened nine-hole sprint. It's weird to think about a major collegiate individual title being decided over nine holes, but that’s the hand they were dealt.
Northwestern’s Dianna Lee didn't seem to mind. She carded a 2-under 34 on the back nine to take the women's individual trophy. On the men's side, Virginia's Michael Lee snagged the top spot with a 3-under 33. It's a bit of a "what if" scenario—would the leaderboard look different over 18 holes? Probably. But in golf, you play the course that's in front of you.
- Men's Team Champion: Florida (defeated Virginia 3-2)
- Women's Team Champion: Oregon (defeated Northwestern 4-1)
- Men's Individual Winner: Michael Lee (Virginia)
- Women's Individual Winner: Dianna Lee (Northwestern)
Consolation Brackets: Don't Call Them Losers
Most people tune out once their team isn't in the final, but the consolation matches at the 2025 East Lake Cup were surprisingly high-quality. Ole Miss took down Arizona State 3.5-1.5. Arizona State is a powerhouse, so seeing the Rebels handle them like that was a statement.
On the women’s side, USC beat Florida State 4-1. Catherine Park for the Trojans was steady as a rock, which is exactly what you need when the temperature is dropping and the wind is whipping off the water at East Lake.
Why This Tournament Still Matters for the Season
If you're wondering why we care about a tournament in October, look at the "Tom Cousins Award." This year it went to Arizona State’s Connor Williams and LSU’s Josele Ballester (though the LSU women didn't make the final match, their presence was felt). This award is about more than just a low score; it's about character and community.
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That’s the soul of this event. It benefits the East Lake Foundation, which has poured millions into the local Atlanta community.
For the players, it’s about the "PGA TOUR U" points. Ben James and Parker Bell are going to be on your TV on Sundays very soon. Seeing them go head-to-head in a match-play format gives us a preview of the pressure they'll face at the next level.
Florida’s win was their second straight victory of the fall. They’re carrying a ton of momentum into the spring. If you're betting on the 2026 NCAA Championship, you’d be smart to keep an eye on this Gators roster. They’re deep, they’re young, and they’ve proven they can win when the weather gets ugly.
Actionable Insights for College Golf Fans
If you want to follow these teams as they head into the 2026 spring season, here is how to stay ahead:
- Watch the WAGR: Keep an eye on the World Amateur Golf Rankings for names like Kiara Romero and Ben James. Their performance here usually dictates their professional trajectory.
- Spring Schedules: The Gators and Ducks are now the teams with the targets on their backs. Check their February schedules; the early spring tournaments in Florida and California will show if this fall success was a fluke or a trend.
- Support the Foundation: The East Lake Cup is a charity-driven event. You can actually look into the East Lake Foundation to see how collegiate sports can impact urban revitalization.
The 2025 East Lake Cup proved that you don't need a 7,200-yard course and perfect sunshine to have elite drama. Sometimes, you just need a sophomore with a hot putter and a 10-foot birdie try on the final hole.