Lamoure, Darling Lead Gamecocks to Runner-Up Finish in Chicago
Travis Bell/Sideline Carolina
Gamecocks had four golfers in the top-20 as team nets another runner-up finish in strong field that featured 10 top-25 teams
WILMETTE, Ill. – No. 4 South Carolina moved two spots up on the leaderboard in round three to finish second at the Windy City Collegiate Classic on Tuesday. The Gamecocks fired a field-best 294 (+6) in the final round of play. It was a strong field this week at Westmoreland Country Club that featured 10 teams ranked in the top-25 of the WGCA Preseason Coaches Poll.
Teams played 36 holes on Monday with several teams finishing the second round early this morning as play was suspended due to darkness. The Gamecocks entered the final round this morning at 11-over, eight shots back of leaders and eventual champion No. 12 Arizona State. Carolina had the 18-hole lead after the opening round on Monday thanks to a field-best score of 284 (-4).
The Gamecocks, Sun Devils and host No. 11 Northwestern were the only schools in the 15-team field this week to have an 18-hole team score under par during the event. Conditions were breezy, posing a stiff challenge to all competitors.
Senior All-American Hannah Darling and sophomore Maylis Lamoure continued their solid play each notching top-five finishes this week, each shooting 3-over (219) for the tournament. Darling fired a 3-under round of 69 in the first round Monday while Lamoure shot 71 (-1) in the opening round and the final round today to lead Carolina. Lamoure rose 15 spots up the leaderboard today with her 1-under 71. She was one of just three players in the field to break par. The top-five is the second of Lamoure’s career and is her third-straight top-20 finish to start the 2024-25 campaign. Darling now has an impressive 14 career top-five finishes and has finished in the top-five in each of the team’s three events to start the 2024-25 season.
Senior All-American Louise Rydqvist and sophomore Vairana Heck each put together good performances this week as well. Rydqvist recorded another top-10 finish on Tuesday as she now has 14 for her career (two this season in three events). She shot 73-74-73 this week to post a 54-hole total of 220 (+4). Heck recorded her first top-20 of the season (sixth career) as she T-18th at 8-over on the week.
Graduate Sophia Burnett played in the lineup for the first time this season and she T-29th at 10-over for the tournament with scores 74-76-76. Junior Mia Sandtorv Lussand finished T-64th competing as an individual this week.
The Gamecocks are off until the end of the month when the team will conclude the fall at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup, the program’s fourth straight year competing in the prestigious fall event. Golf Channel will again be providing TV coverage each day. For more information and ticket info for this year’s Stephens Cup at Oklahoma City Country Club, visit the tournament website by clicking here.
Windy City Collegiate Classic Final Leaderboard
1. No. 12 Arizona State – 875 (+11)
2. No. 4 South Carolina – 881 (+17)
3. No. 2 Southern Cal – 889 (+25)
4. No. 11 Northwestern – 892 (+28)
5. No. 10 Oregon – 895 (+31)
6. No. 7 Wake Forest – 896 (+32)
7. No. 20 Virginia – 898 (+34)
T8. No. 3 UCLA – 899 (+35)
T8. No. 17 Arizona – 899 (+35)
10. No. 15 Duke – 901 (+37)
11. Iowa State – 906 (+42)
12. Purdue – 907 (+43)
13. Georgia – 920 (+56)
14. Illinois – 924 (+60)
15. Augusta – 989 (+125)
* – rankings from Sept. 6 Preseason WGCA Coaches Poll
Windy City Collegiate Classic Final Gamecock Leaderboard
T5. Hannah Darling – 219 (+3)
T5. Maylis Lamoure – 219 (+3)
T10. Louise Rydqvist – 220 (+4)
T18. Vairana Heck – 224 (+8)
T29. Sophia Burnett – 226 (+10)
T64. Mia Sandtorv Lussand^ – 239 (+19)
^ – competing as an individual this week
###