Feb. 17, 2009

TAMPA, Fla. –
South Carolina’s women’s golf team turned in its best round of the three-round Central District Invitational on Tuesday morning, improving by 11 strokes over its second-round total to finish in 11th place in the 15-team field at the River Wilderness Golf Club near Tampa. The Gamecocks finished with a three-round total of 936 (+72) after a 20-over 308 in Tuesday’s final round.

Junior Benedicte Toumpsin led the way once again for the Gamecocks, firing a 3-over 75 to finish at 11-over for the tournament and a tie for 20th place overall. Aside from a double-bogey at the par-5 fifth hole, Toumpsin had a mostly error-free round that included a birdie at the par-3 sixth.

Freshman Katie Burnett and senior Meredith Taylor also had strong finishing rounds for South Carolina. Taylor equaled Toumpsin with a 3-over 75, finishing in a tie for 44th at 17-over for the tournament. Burnett rebounded from an 83 in Monday’s second round to post a 4-over 76 Tuesday, moving her up to a tie with Taylor at 17-over.

Auburn, rated 10th in the latest GolfStat rankings, took the tournament title with a three-round total of 882 (+18). Fellow SEC opponent, No. 14 LSU, was second at 21-over, and 13th-ranked Purdue was third at 24-over.

LSU’s Megan McChrystal, ranked No. 13 in the nation, was the individual medalist, firing a final-round 68 to finish at 3-under for the tournament, edging Auburn’s Candace Schepperle, the nation’s No. 2-ranked individual, by one shot. Duke’s Amanda Blumenhurst was third at 1-under.

The Gamecocks will once again tee it up March 13-15 at the LSU/Cleveland Classic in Baton Rouge, La.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS

TEAM STANDINGS