South Carolina’s Season Ends at NCAA Championship

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.  –  The South Carolina women’s golf team fell short of the cut for match play, finishing in 13th at the NCAA Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club on Monday. 

“Heart and resilience is the way I’d describe this team,” head coach Kalen Anderson said of her squad. “We fell a little short, but coming back from that first day we put ourselves in the mix all the way up until today and we just fell a little bit short. We had an excellent season, had a couple downturns at the end, but that’s the game of golf. It doesn’t take away from the amazing season we had. This is a great group of young ladies and I’m very proud to have coached them this year.”

Sophomore Pauline Roussin-Bouchard finished strong, carding a 2-under (70) to close out her first NCAA Championship tied for 20th. Freshman Paula Kirner put a bow on her strong week, tying for 36th. 

The commotion around the Garnet and Black was centered on senior Ana Pelaez on Monday. After carding a nine on the five-stroke 10th hole to open her round she went even on the next hole, tallied a birdie on her third hole and followed that with a hole in one, the only of the NCAA Championship thus far, to cap off as wild opening to her round. The senior finished the day 1-over with four birdies in addition to her ace on hole 12. 

Carolina’s season ended short of the main goal, but it does not take away from the four tournament wins, a program record, and all the individual success the women found this season. Though the final hill could not be conquered, the season still goes down as one for the record book. 

NCAA Championship Leaderboard – Round Four

1. Stanford – 1,142 (-10)
2. Duke – 1,155 (+3)
3. Oklahoma State – 1,157 (+5)
4. Ole Miss – 1,159 (+7)
5. Texas – 1,161 (+9) 
6. Auburn – 1,170 (+18) 
T7. Arizona State – 1,173 (+21) 
T7. Arizona – 1,173 (+21)
T9. LSU – 1,174 (+22) 
T9. Florida State – 1,174 (+22) 
11. Oregon – 1,175 (+23)
12. Wake Forest – 1,178 (+26)
13. South Carolina – 1,180 (+28)
14. Baylor – 1,182 (+30)
15. UCLA – 1,189 (+37) 

Gamecock Leaderboard

T20. Pauline Roussin-Bouchard – 291 (+3)
T36. Paula Kirner – 294 (+6)
T62. Mathilde Claisse – 300 (+12)
T70. Ana Pelaez – 303 (+15)
S. Lois Kaye Go – 237 
S. Pimnipa Panthong – 90