Oct. 30, 2011

WILMINGTON, N.C. — The South Carolina women’s golf team wrapped up its fall schedule with a strong performance on Sunday in the third round at the Landfall Tradition. The Gamecocks shot a 301 (+13) at the Country Club of Landfall’s Jack Nicklaus Course to climb four spots to finish the event in fourth place with a score of 922 (+58).

South Carolina finished 18 strokes back of tournament champion Purdue (904) and just four strokes behind second-place Auburn (918). The fourth-place showing is the Gamecocks’ best this season.

“Overall it was a good finish,” South Carolina head coach Kalen Harris said. “We gave several shots back to the field in our last few holes both of the last two days. However, I am very proud of the team for their toughness and grit in very difficult and adverse conditions all three rounds. It’s a good way to end the fall season.”

South Carolina senior Katie Burnett added another top five finish to her list of career accomplishments as she shot a final-round 72 (E) to end the tournament tied for fourth with a score of 224 (+8). Burnett now has four top five finishes as a Gamecock. The Brunswick, Ga., native started the day on the seventh hole and birdied No. 9 to move to 1-under early. After recording 13 straight pars, Burnett birdied the fifth to go to 2-under but she double bogeyed her final hole, the sixth, to end the day at even.

Junior Amanda Strang was Carolina’s next highest finisher as she shot a final-round 79 (+7) to tie for 29th with a three-day total of 233 (+17).

Sophomore Samantha Swinehart posted her best round of the tournament with a 2-over 74 to tie for 34th with a score of 235 (+19). Swinehart recorded double bogey on her second hole of the day but she finished strong by playing even par the rest of the way.

Sophomore Katie Rose Higgins and junior Meredith Swanson carded rounds of 76 (+4) and 79 (+7), respectively, to tie for 39th with a score of 236 (+20).

Purdue’s Paula Reto fired a 2-under 70 on Sunday to win medalist honors with a score of 218 (+2).

The Gamecocks will now focus on offseason workouts before the spring schedule begins on Feb. 12 at the UCF Challenge in Sorrento, Fla.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
T4. Katie Burnett 76-76-72=224
T29. Amanda Strang 75-79-79=233
T34. Samantha Swinehart 81-80-74=235
T39. Meredith Swanson 78-79-79=236
T39. Katie Rose Higgins 78-82-76=236

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Purdue 904
2. Auburn 918
3. Ohio State 919
4. South Carolina 922
T5. Iowa State 923
T5. Michigan State 923
7. Duke 924
T8. North Carolina State 932
T8. North Carolina 932
T10. Notre Dame 934
T10. Wake Forest 934
T10. Florida State 934
13. Virginia 938
14. Mississippi 943
15. Tulane 948
16. Northwestern 950
17. Chattanooga 955
18. UNC Wilmington 969