No. 3 Gamecocks Fall to No. 9 Crimson Tide in SEC Quarters
Match came down to extra holes and Alabama was victorious on the 22nd playoff hole
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — No. 3 South Carolina fell to No. 9 Alabama 3-2 in the quarterfinals of match play at the SEC Championship on Saturday. Due to impending weather moving into the area, the quarterfinals were moved up to Friday immediately following the stroke play portion of the tournament.
The Gamecocks’ match with the Crimson Tide was suspended late last night with Carolina leading in two matches, Alabama one and two others tied.
Freshmen Louise Rydqvist and Hannah Darling each posted wins in their SEC Match Play debuts. Rydqvist won the opening hole and did not trail the rest of the way. Darling posted an impressive 2&1 win over Polly Mack, the No. 7 ranked player in Golfstat and 50th ranked amateur in the world. Darling went 2-up on the back nine after an impressive eagle at the par-5 third hole. She stuffed her second shot inside 20 feet from 220 yards out in the middle of the fairway.
Junior Mathilde Clasisse fell 1-up in a tight match with Alabama’s Angelica Moresco on the final hole. Their match was tied for 10 of their 18 holes.
Sophomore Paula Kirner battled from start to finish but fell 3&1 to 19th ranked player in the world Benedetta Moresco.
The match came down to the leadoff one between junior Justine Fournand and Alabama’s Emilie Overas. Fournand went 1-up with one hole to play but Overas made birdie to tie things up for the ninth time in their match, forcing extra holes. They tied the first three holes and Overas made biride on the 22nd hole to win and give the Crimson a 3-2 win.
The Gamecocks will be off until NCAA Regionals (May 10-12). The women’s golf selection show will air live on the Golf Channel on April 27th at 5 p.m. (ET). Carolina will be in prime position to earn one of the six No. 1 seeds up for grabs.
SEC Match Player Quarterfinals
Emilie Overas (ALA) def. Justine Fournand (SC), 1-up in 22 holes
Angelica Moresco (ALA) def. Mathilde Claisse (SC), 1-up
Louise Rydqvist (SC) def. Isabella van der Biest (ALA), 4&3
Benedetta Moresco (ALA) def. Paula Kirner (SC), 3&1
Hannah Darling (SC) def. Polly Mack (ALA), 2&1
FINAL: No. 9 Alabama def. No. 3 South Carolina, 3-2
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