Pegula, fresh off her Miami Open final loss to Aryna Sabalenka a week ago, adapted seamlessly to the green clay surface, securing her second singles title of the season and the eighth of her career on Sunday.
The 31-year-old's first claycourt title will lift her to number three in the world, overtaking Coco Gauff as the top-ranked American.
"I spend a couple of years training here on Daniel Island in my early 20s. So to be able to come here this week after a long two weeks in Miami and take the title is just incredible," Pegula said.
She struck early on, breaking Kenin in the opening game and nearly doing so again in the third.
Yet the 2020 Australian Open champion held firm, saving two break points before breaking Pegula back to level at 2-2.
Kenin looked to shift momentum in her next service game as she saved a break point to hold and take the lead for the first time after a shaky start.
But she failed to maintain the push, dropping her serve twice more as Pegula closed out the first set in just over half an hour.
Pegula struggled with her serve in the second set while Kenin, leaning on some strong backhand winners, looked on course to force a decider, serving at 5-2.
But the US Open runner-up saved three set points and mounted a comeback, winning six consecutive games to seal the win.
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