Roussin-Bouchard Leads, Gamecocks in Second at Augusta Invitational

AUGUSTA, Ga.  –  Sophomore Pauline Roussin-Bouchard led the way as the No. 3 South Carolina women’s golf team got started at the Valspar Augusta Invitational on Saturday, with the sophomore holding the individual lead and the team sitting in second through two rounds at the Forest Hills Golf Club. 

Roussin-Bouchard got back into her normal groove quickly, shooting for par through her first five holes before sinking four straight birdies. Through her final nine holes she sank three more birdies on her way to a 7-under 65, tied for second at the end of the round. 

The rest of the Gamecocks came to play on Saturday as well, with senior Ana Pelaez notching five birdies on her way to a 4-under 68, tied for sixth. Seniors Lois Kaye Go and Pimnipa Panthong both carded 2-under 70 scores in the opening round, with Go notching an eagle on hole six, and birdies on holes five and 12, and Panthong notching three birdies in the round. Though her score did not count for the round, freshman Paula Kirner finished the round with an even-par 72. The 15-under 273 from the first round ties the program record for lowest 18-hole score, and the record for lowest first round score in program history. 

Sophomore Mathilde Claisse and freshman Kaiyuree Moodley are competing as individuals, and both finished the first round with 1-over 73 scores.  

Carolina kept things rolling through the second round with Roussin-Bouchard carding a 3-under 69, including an eagle and four birdies, to move into the individual lead with 10-under for the tournament. Pelaez had another strong round, sinking six birdies on her way to a 3-under 69, and a tie for third place. Kirner hit a new gear in the second round, notching her best round as a Gamecock with a 4-under 68 to move into a tie for 11th place with 4-under for the tournament.

“Really great effort by the group today, it was an overall team effort,” head coach Kalen Anderson said after the two rounds. “We had a really good first round, tied the team record for lowest round with a 15-under and backed it up with a 9-under. Pauline had a solid 7-under this morning, Ana with a 4-under and then a 3-under, Paula came in as a freshman and we dropped her right in the lineup for a 4-under this afternoon. Everybody stepped up and did a great job for us. We had a lot of birdies out there and it was just a fight with Duke and Florida State all day. We’re excited to get back out there tomorrow and get some birdies and see what happens.”

The Gamecocks tee off for the final round in Augusta at 8 a.m. Sunday. 

2021 Valspar Augusta Invitational Leaderboard – Round Two

1. Duke – 551 (-25)
1. South Carolina – 552 (-24)
3. Florida State – 555 (-21)
4. Wake Forest – 566 (-10)
5. Virginia – 568 (-8)
6. Virginia Tech – 571 (-5)
7. Louisville – 577 (+1)
8. Purdue – 579 (+3)
9. Furman – 582 (+6)
10. Kent State – 584 (+8)
11. Augusta – 585 (+9)
12. Coastal Carolina – 586 (+10)
13. South Florida – 589 (+13)
14. Kennesaw State – 599 (+23)
T15. Memphis – 607 (+31)
T15. Notre Dame – 607 (+31)

Gamecock Leaderboard

1. Pauline Roussin-Bouchard – 134 (-10)
T3. Ana Pelaez – 137 (-7)
T11. Paula Kirner – 140 (-4)
T23. Mathilde Claisse (I) – 143 (-1)
T23. Pimnipa Panthong – 143 (-1)
T35. Lois Kaye Go – 146 (+2)
T69. Kaiyuree Moodley (I) – 151 (+7)