Lady Gamecocks Finish 11th At Darius Rucker Intercollegiate

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC March 10, 2013 — The South Carolina women’s golf team posted its lowest round of the weekend, shooting a 302 (+18) on Sunday to finish in 11th place at the second annual Darius Rucker Intercollegiate at Long Cove Club.

The Gamecocks wrapped up the event with a three-round total of 921 (+69), improving their score each day. Long Cove Club played more than five strokes above par for the third straight day with a round average of 76.83. Out of 81 scores turned in, only five were par or better. South Carolina head coach Kalen Harris saw some positives from her team as it fought through tough conditions all weekend.

“This golf course is extremely challenging,” Harris said. “I look at the team as a whole, and there are a lot of really good things going on. The sum of our golf is very good. With this golf course, any mistake that you make is going to be exaggerated out here. There were a lot of big numbers. This is what this golf course does to you. Today we got off to a bit of a rough start and really battled and hung in there and finished about as well as we could have. I was very pleased about that.”

Junior Suzie Lee led South Carolina with a tie for 17th finish, the fourth top-20 showing of her career. Lee carded a solid round of 2-over 73 to close out the week with a total of 223 (+10).

Sophomore Justine Dreher climbed 11 spots up the leaderboard to finish tied for 39th after carding a 74 (+3) on Sunday. Dreher closed out the week with a 54-hole total of 229 (+16).

Freshman Mary Fran Hillow posted a 76 (+5) to finish the weekend in a tie for 54th with a total of 234 (+21). Freshman Sarah Schmelzel tied for 64th with a total of 238 (+25) after turning in a final-round 79 (+8). Freshman Chelsey Couch, who played the weekend as an individual, shot an 84 (+13) and tied for 67th with a total of 239 (+26).

Senior Meredith Swanson carded an 84 (+13) and finished 74th with a total of 245 (+32). Junior Samantha Swinehart, who also played as an individual, wrapped up the event in 78th with a total of 251 (+38) after shooting an 83 (+12).

Fourth-ranked Alabama won the team title for the second straight year, finishing the tournament with a total of 876 (+24). Arizona State’s Noemi Jimenez claimed medalist honors with a total of 209 (-4) after firing a final-round 68 (-3).

The Gamecocks will return to action on March 29 at the Bryan National Collegiate. The 54-hole event will be held at the Bryan Park Golf and Conference Center in Greensboro, N.C.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
T17. Suzie Lee (1) 75-75-73=223 (+10)
T39. Justine Dreher (2) 80-75-74=229 (+16)
T54. Mary Fran Hillow (4) 80-78-76=234 (+21)
T64. Sarah Schmelzel (5) 82-77-79=238 (+25)
74. Meredith Swanson (3) 79-82-84=245 (+32)
*T67. Chelsey Couch 76-79-84=239 (+26)
*78. Samantha Swinehart 87-81-83=251 (+38)
*Played as an individual

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. Alabama 297-288-291=876 (+24)
T2. LSU 295-286-299=880 (+28)
T2. Vanderbilt 296-282-302=880 (+28)
4. Arizona State 297-297-293=887 (+35)
T5. North Carolina 295-299-295=889 (+37)
T5. Arkansas 293-298-298=889 (+37)
7. Virginia 301-303-290=894 (+42)
T8. UCF 298-302-302=902 (+50)
T8. Tennessee 297-301-304=902 (+50)
10. Georgia 308-299-307=914 (+62)
11. South Carolina 314-305-302=921 (+69)
12. TCU 311-305-307=923 (+71)
13. Furman 313-306-305=924 (+72)
14. Wake Forest 304-320-302=926 (+74)
15 Auburn 315-316-307=938 (+86)