Oct. 10, 2010

By Wes Todd
Assistant Media Relations Director

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Junior Katie Burnett shot a 1-under-par 71 on the final day of the Tar Heel Invitational, leading a seven-shot turnaround for South Carolina and helping the Gamecocks to an 11th-place finish on Sunday. The Gamecocks posted their best team round of the week at 290 (+2) and moved up two spots to tie Louisville for 11th place with a three-round total of 291-297-290=878 (+14).

Burnett saw a three-shot improvement from a pair of 74s in the first two round in recording her third round in red numbers so far this season. Starting on the 13th hole with the final-round shotgun start, Burnett made par on her first three holes before birdies at 17 and 18 to head to the front nine at 2-under. Four more pars gave way to two bogeys at Nos. 5 and 7, but she then rolled off four straight pars before closing with a birdie at No. 12 to secure an under-par day and a tie for 35th place at 219 (+3).

Freshman Suzie Lee was the most consistent Gamecock this week, posting three straight rounds of even-par 72 to finish at 216 (E) for the week and tied for 24th place. In Sunday’s final round, Lee birdied two of her first three holes (13 and 14), then headed for the front nine at 2-under after a bogey at 16 and another birdie at 18. She made birdie at the par-5 third hole to get to 3-under, but then had three bogeys on her final six holes to finish at even par.

Amanda Strang, the sophomore from Jonstorp, Sweden, had her best round of the week – and the season – with a 1-over-par 73. Starting on No. 15, she was even through her first four holes after a bogey at 16 and a birdie at 17. She dropped to 3-over with bogeys at Nos. 1, 2 and 5, then made two birdies and a bogey on her last four holes of the front nine to make the turn at 2-over for the day. A strong finish that included a birdie at 13 gave her a 1-over-par afternoon and a 7-over-par week.

Katie Rose Higgins improved by one shot over her second-round effort with a 2-over-par 74 on Sunday. The Charleston native started on No. 13 and played her first six holes at 1-over with a birdie at 17 and bogeys at 15 and 18. Following a double-bogey at No. 1, she rolled off seven straight pars before back-to-back birdies at the ninth and 10th to get her back to 1-over. Bogey at 11 and par at 12 gave her a 2-over-par day and a total score of 221 (+5). Fellow freshman Samantha Swinehart faltered a bit in her final round with a 79 (+7) that included a pair of birdies.

Alabama set a tournament record and ran away with the tournament title at 836 (-28), despite a final-round charge from top-ranked LSU who finished at 848 (-16). Duke finished third at 851 (-16). The Crimson Tide’s Brooke Pancake took home medalist honors after winning on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff with LSU’s Megan McChrystal; the pair tied at 205 (-11). Alabama’s Camilla Lennarth was third at 206 (-10).

The Gamecocks will return to action Oct. 22-24 at The Landfall Tradition in Wilmington, N.C. The Dye Course at The Country Club of Landfall was the site of last season’s NCAA Championship, where South Carolina tied for 14th place.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
T24. Suzie Lee – 72-72-72=216 (E)
T35. Katie Burnett – 74-74-71=219 (+3)
T42. Katie Rose Higgins – 72-75-74=221 (+5)
T51. Amanda Strang – 74-76-73=223 (+7)
T73. Samantha Swinehart – 73-76-79=228 (+12)

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. Alabama – 836 (-28)
2. LSU – 848 (-16)
3. Duke – 851 (-13)
4. Virginia – 862 (-2)
5. North Carolina – 866 (+2)
6. Michigan State – 870 (+6)
7. Tulane – 872 (+8)
T8. Vanderbilt – 874 (+10)
T8. Georgia – 874 (+10)
10. Wake Forest – 876 (+12)
T11. South Carolina – 878 (+14)
T11. Louisville – 878 (+14)
T13. Auburn – 880 (+16)
T13. Texas A&M – 880 (+16)
15. Florida – 881 (+17)
16. Florida State – 890 (+26)
17. Denver – 898 (+34)
18. NC State – 908 (+44)