Oct. 21, 2011

Complete Results

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — On a day that low scores were tough to come by at Holston Hills Country Club, the South Carolina women’s golf team shot a first-round 310 (+22) on Friday at the SEC/Pac-12 Challenge, finishing the day in 19th place.

The Gamecocks are within 12 strokes of the next 10 teams in the standings as they are competing against one of the strongest fields they will face this season with 14 nationally ranked teams at the event, including seven of the nation’s top 10 squads.

Only two teams posted rounds under par on the day, as defending national champion UCLA shot a 7-under 281 to take the first-round lead. Alabama is three shots back after shooting 284 (-4). Of the 120 golfers on the course, only 14 carded rounds under par. The Pac-12 leads the conference competition with an average team score of 299.1 compared to the SEC’s average 301.5.

Senior Katie Burnett led the way for the Gamecocks with a 4-over 76. Burnett, who has been the top finisher in both of South Carolina’s tournaments this season, bounced back from a 39 (+3) on the front nine with a solid 37 (+1) on the back to end the day in a tie for 55th.

Junior Amanda Strang carded a 77 (+5) and is tied for 69th. A pair of double bogeys on the front nine led to Strang making the turn at 6-over, but she recorded eight pars and a birdie on the back nine to gain some momentum heading into the second round.

Sophomore Samantha Swinehart and junior Meredith Swanson shot rounds of 78 (+6) and 79 (+7), respectively. Sophomore Katie Rose Higgins and Suzie Lee, who is playing as an individual, each shot an 80 (+8) for the Gamecocks.

Alabama’s Stephanie Meadow and Vanderbilt’s Lauren Stratton each carded a 4-under 68 on Friday to share the first-round lead.

South Carolina is paired with Georgia, LSU and Kentucky for Saturday’s second round and will tee off on hole No. 10 at 10:20 a.m. Live scoring will be available at golfstatresults.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
T55. Katie Burnett 76 (+4)
T69. Amanda Strang 77 (+5)
T78. Samantha Swinehart 78 (+6)
T90. Meredith Swanson 79 (+7)
T97. Katie Rose Higgins 80 (+8)
*T97. Suzie Lee 80 (+8)
*Playing as an individual.

TEAM STANDINGS
1. UCLA 281 (-7)
2. Alabama 284 (-4)
3. Tennessee 291 (+3)
T4. Colorado 295 (+7)
T4. Washington 295 (+7)
T6. Auburn 296 (+8)
T6. Vanderbilt 296 (+8)
T6. Arizona 296 (+8)
T9. Florida 298 (+10)
T9. Southern Cal 298 (+10)
11. California 299 (+11)
T12. Arizona State 300 (+12)
T12. Stanford 300 (+12)
T14. Mississippi 301 (+13)
T14. Oregon 301 (+13)
16. Arkansas 303 (+15)
17. Georgia 305 (+17)
18. LSU 307 (+19)
19. South Carolina 310 (+22)
T20. Kentucky 312 (+24)
T20. Washington State 312 (+24)
22. Oregon State 313 (+25)
23. Mississippi State 317 (+29)