March 15, 2016

TUCSON, Ariz. — South Carolina women’s golfers Katelyn Dambaugh and Sarah Schmelzel both posted rounds under par on day one of the Wildcat Invitational. The Gamecocks (587, +11) sit in sixth place following the completion of the first two rounds on Monday at Sewailo Golf Club, while Arizona State (574, -2) holds a one-stroke lead over the field of 15 teams.

Dambaugh ended the second round in a tie for fifth at 2-under (142) following rounds of 69 (-3) and 73 (+1) on Monday. After opening with seven-straight pars, the junior found her stroke near the end of her front nine, registering birdies on holes No. 8 and 9. She added another two more birdies following the turn, with her last one coming on the par-3 13th. Dambaugh saw an up-and-down round in the afternoon, as the Goose Creek, S.C., native tallied four birdies, seven bogeys and an eagle on the par-4 17th.

Schmelzel will head into the Tuesday’s final round in a tie for 18th place after totaling a 147 (+3) in the event’s opening day. The senior recorded a 4-over 76 in the morning, but recovered in her second round, notching a 1-under 71. She began her afternoon with a birdie on the par-4 second and made the turn at 1-under. Schmelzel, who recorded just three bogeys in round two, finished her day strong with a birdie on her final hole, the par-4 first.

A pair of South Carolina newcomers, freshman Marion Veysseyre and junior transfer Marianna Monaco, also improved throughout the day, as both shot a 73 (+1) and recorded an eagle in the second round. Veysseyre’s (150, +6) eagle came courtesy of a hole-in-one on the par-3 13th, while Monaco eagled the par-5 fifth.

Sophomore Ainhoa Olarra, who collected six birdies on Monday, finished day one with a combined total of 152 (+8) following rounds of 75 (+3) and 77 (+5). Junior Jia Xin Yang marked the other Gamecock to register a round under par, as she posted a 1-under 71 in the afternoon while competing as an individual. She sits in 18th place with a 147 (+3) through the first two rounds.

Host Arizona (575, -1) is one stroke off the lead, while Purdue (582, +6), UNLV (584, +8) and Miami (585, +9) round out the top five. Arizona State’s Linnea Strom holds the individual lead at 9-under (135).

Quoting Coach Kalen Anderson

Round Changer

Notable

• Marianna Monaco’s 2-over 73 in the afternoon marked a new low-18 hole for the junior.
• South Carolina’s 4.11 par-4 scoring and three eagles both lead the field this week.
• The Gamecocks boasted the second-lowest score (290) in the second round on Monday. Arizona State turned in a 289 in the afternoon to move to the top of the leaderboard.

Up Next

The Gamecocks conclude play at the Wildcat Invitational on Tuesday. Tomorrow’s third round will once again be a shotgun start, with each team set to tee off at 8 a.m. PT (11 a.m. ET)