Feb. 11, 2017

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Paced by senior Katelyn Dambaugh’s 68 (-4) and rounds under par from freshman Ana Pelaez and junior Ainhoa Olarra, South Carolina posted a 283 (-5) Saturday at the Don Veller Seminole Course to remain in contention at the Florida State Match-Up. The No. 13 Gamecocks will head into Sunday’s final round three shots back of No. 4 Florida State (1st, -18) in second place at 15-under 561 for the tournament.

Dambaugh’s performance moved the Goose Creek, S.C., native into fifth place at 5-under 139 through two rounds, while Pelaez sits in a tie for second place and one shot off the lead with a 36-hole mark of 138 (-6). Olarra and Gamecock sophomore Marion Veysseyre are also in the top 10 at 2-under 142, and Florida State’s Morgane Metraux (137, -7) moved atop the individual leaderboard after carding a 5-under 67 Saturday. The Gamecocks, Seminoles and No. 23 Texas A&M (574, -2) are the only three schools under par at the 54-hole event.

Dambaugh boasted six birdies in the second round, the first of which came on the par-4 fifth. She made the turn at 1-under 35 after tallying another birdie on No. 7 before catching fire down the stretch of the back nine. The senior registered a birdie on four of her final seven holes to post a back-nine 33 (-3) and climb into the top five.

Pelaez remained solid on day two, turning in a 1-under 71. She recovered from two bogeys on the front nine and shot a 3-under 33 on the back following three birdies after the turn. Her first birdie came on the par-5 10th and she added two more on Nos. 13 and 15 to finish under par for the second-straight day.

Olarra made the turn at even (36) Saturday before tallying three birdies over her final nine holes. She responded from a pair of bogeys on Nos. 11 and 12 with back-to-back birdies on the par-5 15th and par-4 16th on the way to a 1-under 71. The San Sebastian, Spain, native will head into the last round in a tie for sixth.

Veysseyre posted a 1-over 73 on day two, totaling three birdies on her round. She was 2-under through six holes following birdies on Nos. 4 and 6, and the sophomore’s final birdie of the afternoon came on the par-5 15th. Veysseyre sits with Olarra on the list of players tied for sixth through two rounds.

Carolina senior Jia Xin Yang fired a 6-over 78 Saturday in a round that was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 15th. The Beijing, China, native, who also carded a birdie on No. 10, is tied for 31st at 4-over 148 for the tournament. Anita Uwadia registered three birdies on the way to an even 72 in round two. The freshman, one of six golfers competing as an individual this week, sits in a tie for 39th with a 36-hole score of 150 (+6).

Quoting Coach Kalen Anderson

Round Changer

Notable

• The Gamecocks have totaled the most birdies (39) through two rounds of action at the Don Veller Seminole Course.
• Carolina is the only school with four golfers in the top 10 on the individual leaderboard through 36 holes.
• Senior Katelyn Dambaugh’s 2.75 par-3 scoring average this week ranks first in the field.
• Freshman Ana Pelaez leads all golfers with a 3.85 par-4 scoring average at the Florida State Match-Up.

Up Next

Carolina concludes play at the Florida State Match-Up Sunday. The Gamecocks will be paired with Florida State and Texas A&M and begin their day on No. 1 at 8:54 a.m.