Oct. 24, 2016

VENICE, Fla. – Former South Carolina women’s golf standout Justine Dreher and current Gamecock senior Katelyn Dambaugh have both received Symetra Tour status after finishing in the top 80 at Stage II of the 2016 LPGA Qualifying Tournament.

Dambaugh tied for 24th (292, +4), while Dreher placed in a tie for 30th (293, +5) at the 72-hole event, which wrapped up Sunday at Plantation Golf and Country Club. The Symetra Tour is the official development tour for the LPGA, and membership for it is open to professional women golfers and qualified amateurs.

Dambaugh, one of 10 amateurs to earn Symetra Tour status, ended day one of the tournament in a tie for 13^th following her opening round 70 (-2). The Goose Creek, S.C. native shot a 75 (+3) in rounds two and three and closed the event with a 72 (E). She will use her Symetra Tour status next year after wrapping up her collegiate career in the spring.

Dreher, who played at South Carolina from 2011-15, opened the tournament with a 73 (+1) Thursday before shooting even par (72) in Friday’s second round. Following a 2-over 74 on Saturday, Dreher posted a 72 (+2) in Sunday’s final round.

The three-time All-American will now move her attention to Stage III of Q-School, set for Nov. 30-Dec. 4 at LPGA International in Dayton Beach, Fla. The final stage will feature 90 holes of stroke play with a cut after the fourth round, and the number of players who will receive LPGA Tour membership for next year will be determined after the completion of the final round.

Recent South Carolina graduate Sarah Schmelzel (2012-16) was also in action at Stage II. The Phoenix, Ariz., native, who ranks fourth in school history in career scoring average (74.25), finished 178^th.

Dambaugh and the No. 18 Gamecocks round out their fall season later this week at the Landfall Tradition. The 54-hole event at the Pete Dye Course in Wilmington, N.C., takes place Oct. 28-30.