Oct. 23, 2011

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The South Carolina women’s golf team saved its best round for Sunday at the SEC/Pac-12 Challenge as it shot a 293 (+5) in the final round at Holston Hills Country Club.

The Gamecocks improved 17 strokes from their first-round score and 12 from the second round to wrap up the tournament in 17th place with a three-day total of 908 (+44). Carolina’s score was the fifth lowest of the day in the 23-team field.

“Today we played Gamecock golf,” South Carolina head coach Kalen Harris said. “I was proud of them for coming back and finishing strong and finishing the tournament on a good note. We played the golf we are capable of today.”

Sophomore Samantha Swinehart posted a season-low 71 (-1) to lead the Gamecocks on the final day. She recorded three birdies, two bogeys and 13 pars to finish the tournament tied for 44th with a score of 224 (+8).

“She just hung in there all day,” Harris said of Swinehart. “She just played steady all day. It could have been a lot lower. Her game is really coming around, and she’s back to where she needs to be. We are excited to see that.”

Senior Katie Burnett also tied for 44th with a score of 224 (+8) after carding a final-round 73 (+1). Burnett was 3-over through 11 holes before recording birdies on the sixth, seventh and eighth holes to move back to even. She followed with a bogey on the ninth and made par over her final three holes to end the day at 1-over.

Junior Amanda Strang was Carolina’s next highest finisher as she shot a 76 (+4) on Sunday to finish tied for 59th with a score of 227 (+11). An eagle on the par-5 seventh highlighted her round, which consisted of six bogeys and 11 pars.

Junior Meredith Swanson recorded her best round of the tournament with a 1-over 73, while sophomore Katie Rose Higgins turned in a 77 (+5). Sophomore Suzie Lee, who played as an individual, shot an 82 (+10).

Alabama held off defending national champion UCLA to win the tournament with a score of 865 (+1). The Bruins claimed second with a three-round total of 869 (+5), followed by Auburn (879), Tennessee (880) and Southern California (880). The SEC won the conference competition with a three-round average of 896.1 compared to the Pac-12’s average of 898.8.

Alabama’s Stephanie Meadow shot a 72 (E) to win medalist honors.

The Gamecocks will wrap up their fall schedule in the Landfall Tradition, which begins on Friday, Oct. 28 at the Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, N.C.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
T44. Katie Burnett 76-75-73=224
T44. Samantha Swinehart 78-75-71=224
T59. Amanda Strang 77-74-76=227
T87. Meredith Swanson 79-81-73=233
T100. Katie Rose Higgins 80-81-77=238
* T105. Suzie Lee 80-78-82=240
*Played as an individual.

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. Alabama 865 +1
2. UCLA 869 +5
3. Auburn 879 +15
T4. Tennessee 880 +16
T4. Southern Cal 880 +16
6. Vanderbilt 887 +23
7. Georgia 888 +24
8. Florida 893 +29
9. Arizona 894 +30
T10. Arizona State 895 +31
T10. Washington 895 +31
12. Oregon 896 +32
13. Mississippi 898 +34
14. Colorado 899 +35
15. LSU 900 +36
16. California 901 +37
17. South Carolina 908 +44
18. Stanford 909 +45
19. Arkansas 910 +46
20. Kentucky 913 +49
21. Oregon State 921 +57
22. Washington State 928 +64
23. Mississippi State 932 +68