Feb. 14, 2012

SORRENTO, Fla. — On what proved to be a tough scoring day, the South Carolina women’s golf team shot a final-round 300 (+12) at RedTail Golf Club on Tuesday afternoon to wrap up the UCF Challenge in seventh place with a three-round total of 889 (+25).

After several teams posted red numbers the first two days, not a single team was below par on Tuesday, and only four individuals carded rounds under par. Cold temperatures and windy conditions left the field battling for low numbers.

“Today was a lot like the first day. It was a little bit warmer but really windy,” South Carolina head coach Kalen Harris said. “Holes 14 through 17 were out on the corner near the water and that got really windy, which made them very challenging. The girls hung in there and held their ground. Overall, for the start of the season it is good to see where we are. I saw things that we need to address in practices. The girls are swinging really well. We just need to sharpen things up around the green a little bit. I’m happy with the way they battled and hung in there the last few days and I know our finishes will be better down the line.”

Senior Katie Burnett led the way for the Gamecocks for the second straight day as she posted a final-round 73 (+1) to move seven spots up the leaderboard to finish tied for 14th with a score of 219 (+3). The Brunswick, Ga., native began her day at hole No. 6 with a bogey but she recovered with birdies on holes 10 and 12 to move to 1-under. After recording pars on the next six holes, Burnett struggled down the stretch with bogeys on No. 1 and No. 5 to finish the day at 1-over.

Junior Meredith Swanson, who played as an individual, carded a 76 (+4) to finish the tournament tied for 32nd with a score of 223 (+7). Swanson was 2-over through 17 holes but she recorded her first double bogey of tournament on the final hole to close out the day at 4-over.

Sophomore Samantha Swinehart and junior Amanda Strang finished tied for 38th with a score of 224 (+8). Swinehart carded a final-round 77 (+77), while Strang turned in a 76 (+4).

Freshman Justine Dreher bounced back from Monday’s 77 to shoot a 2-over 74 on Tuesday. Dreher recorded one birdie, three bogeys and 14 pars on the day to finish the tournament in a tie for 43rd with a three-round score of 225 (+9). Sophomore Suzie Lee joined Dreher in the group tied for 43rd after shooting 5-over 77.

No. 3 Auburn swept the team and individual honors. The Tigers won the tournament with a three-round total of 863 (-1), while Auburn’s Victoria Trapani claimed medalist honors with a score of 213 (-3).

The Gamecocks return to action on March 2-4 as they are set to host the inaugural Darius Rucker Intercollegiate. The 54-hole tournament will be played at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head Island, S.C.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
T14. Katie Burnett 74-72-73=219 (+3)
T38. Samantha Swinehart 72-75-77=224 (+8)
T38. Amanda Strang 73-75-76=224 (+8)
T43. Suzie Lee 71-77-77=225 (+9)
T43. Justine Dreher 74-77-74=225 (+9)
*T32. Meredith Swanson 75-72-76=223 (+7)

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. Auburn 863 (-1)
2. Baylor 865 (+1)
3. Tulane 866 (+2)
4. UCF 873 (+9)
5. Augusta State 879 (+15)
6. South Florida 883 (+19)
7. South Carolina 889 (+25)
8. Kentucky 890 (+26)
9. Texas 891 (+27)
10. Kennesaw State 900 (+36)
11. Miami 906 (+42)
12. UTSA 910 (+46)
13. Memphis 912 (+48)
T14. Mississippi State 915 (+51)
T14. Coastal Carolina 915 (+51)
16. Kansas 917 (+53)
17. Georgia State 924 (+60)
18. Minnesota 929 (+65)