No. 11 Gamecocks Enter Match Play of SEC Championships as No. 2 Seed

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – No. 11 South Carolina women’s golf ended the stroke-play portion of the 2019 SEC Women’s Golf Championships in second place after a 1-over 865 in Friday’s third round. Carolina, who will enter match play as the No. 2 seed, finished with three top-10 individuals, the most since 1990 when the Gamecocks had four in the top-10 in just a five-team field in the metro-conference. 
 
“[The team] played really strong today,” South Carolina head coach Kalen Anderson said. “It was a tough day; it was cold, windy and rainy. There was a lot of adversity. We’re a high seed and I’m really proud of them. Everything if off the table now, it’s a whole new tournament. I think they are really fired up after last year and they know what it is all about.”
 
Carolina ended stroke play just two strokes behind No. 12 Florida, who shot a 8-over 296 in the final round of stroke play. After the Gamecocks, defending champion Arkansas took control of the No. 3 seed. Rounding out the top five was No. 4 Vanderbilt along with No. 40 Georgia and No. 13 Auburn who tied for fifth. The final two remaining spots in the match-play bracket were No. 47 Mississippi State and No. 35 Ole Miss.
 
Lois Kaye Go completed her third round with an even 72 on Friday. The junior knocked in 16 pars throughout her round to finish in the top five for the fourth time this season and fifth time in her career at South Carolina.
 
Emily Price joined her in the top five with a 1-over 73 in her final round at Greystone. In her SEC Championship debut, she finished with two under-par rounds and her best individual performance as a Gamecock. Go and Price’s top-five finish marks the seventh-straight year the Gamecocks have had at least one individual in the top five.
 
“Unreal. As a freshman she has done a phenomenal job all year,” Anderson said of Price. “I’m proud of her and [Lois Kaye Go] both for finishing in the top five. With [Ana Pelaez] also in the top 10, that makes three. We just had an excellent week in stroke play and now we have to focus on the match play and I think they’re ready.”
 
Junior Ana Pelaez completed her impressive week with a 1-over 73 for a three-round score of 217 to finish in the top-10 for the second-straight week. With 12 birdies in three rounds, Pelaez was just one behind the individual champion Maria Fassi of Arkansas for the most in the tournament.
 
Anita Uwadia completed her tournament with her best round despite the rain and wind. She cruised on the front nine with a 1-under 35 before ending the round with a 2-over 74. In three rounds on the front nine, Uwadia finished 3-under giving her the second best on the team during stroke play.
 
Wrapping up Carolina’s competitors on day three was Marion Veysseyre. The senior hit a rough patch on the back nine and finished the day with a 7-over 79 to end her week in a tie for 29th.
 
In the quarterfinals of match play that begins at 8:00 a.m. ET, South Carolina will be paired with Mississippi State. The Bulldogs made a move from ninth to seventh during the final round of stroke play. Below is a full breakdown of tomorrow’s match that will begin at hole No. 1.
 
South Carolina vs. Mississippi State – All Times Eastern
Emily Price vs. Aubree Jones (8:00 a.m.)
Ana Pelaez vs. Lauren Miller (8:10 a.m.)
Lois Kaye Go vs. Hannah Levi (8:20 a.m.)
Anita Uwadia vs. Ela Grimwood (8:30 a.m.)
Marion Veysseyre vs. Blair Stockett (8:40 a.m.)
 
Additionally, the semifinals will be played tomorrow, with an approximant start time of 1:30 p.m. ET. The semifinals will be able to be viewed via SEC Network +. The finals on Sunday will be played on SEC Network beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET.  
 
Make sure to follow along on Twitter and Instagram (@GamecockWGolf) and on Facebook to stay up to date with the Gamecocks.
 
GAMECOCK LEADERBOARD – Final Stroke Play
T5. Emily Price – 71-71-73=215 (-1)
T5. Lois Kaye Go – 70-73-72=215 (-1)
T10. Ana Pelaez – 72-72-73=217 (+1)
T29. Marion Veysseyre – 74-70-79=223 (+7)
T34. Anita Uwadia – 75-75-74=224 (+8)
 
TEAM STANDINGS (SEED) – Final Stroke Play
1 (1). Florida – 284-283-296=863 (-1)
2 (2). South Carolina – 287-286-292=865 (+1)
3 (3). Arkansas – 291-287-290=868 (+4)
4 (4). Vanderbilt – 296-288-293=877 (+13)
T5 (5). Georgia – 293-286-303=882 (+18)
T5 (6). Auburn – 284-298-300=882 (+18)
7 (7). Mississippi State – 294-298-299=891 (+27)
8 (8). Ole Miss – 298-290-304=892 (+28)
9. LSU – 299-292-305=896 (+32)
10. Tennessee – 294-300-303=897 (+33)
11. Alabama – 301-292-305=898 (+34)
12. Missouri – 299-298-303=900 (+36)
13. Texas A&M – 300-293-311=904 (+40)
14. Kentucky – 304-299-307=910 (+46)