Feb. 13, 2012

SORRENTO, Fla. — The South Carolina women’s golf team shot a second-round 299 (+11) on Monday in the UCF Challenge at RedTail Golf Club. The Gamecocks are in seventh place heading into Tuesday’s final round with a two-round score of 589 (+13).

“The conditions were very scorable today,” South Carolina head coach Kalen Harris said. “We just got off to a slow start, and it was a case of us trying a little bit to hard to shoot good numbers. They battled for quite a while on the back nine and came in with a strong finish. Tomorrow is a new day, and I have a lot of confidence that they will come back and put in a solid round for a good finish.”

Senior Katie Burnett carded an even-par 72 to lead Carolina. The Brunswick, Ga., native played steady throughout the front nine as she made the turn at 1-under after a birdie at hole No. 7. Burnett hit a rough stretch to begin the back nine with a bogey on the 10th and a double bogey on the 14th to fall back to 2-over. However, she recovered nicely with back-to-back birdies on holes 16 and 17 and a par on the 18th to head into the clubhouse in a tie for 21st with a two-day score of 146 (+2).

Sophomore Samantha Swinehart is tied for 29th with a 147 (+3) after recording a 75 (+3) on Monday. Swinehart had a solid front nine as she posted eight pars and a bogey to make the turn at 1-over, but the back nine proved to be a challenge. She began with a bogey at the 10th and also gave back a stroke at both the 14th and 16th. Her lone birdie of the day came on the 12th, as she closed out her day at 3-over.

Junior Meredith Swanson, who is playing as an individual, joined Swinehart in a group at 147 (+3) after posting a 72 (E). Swanson headed to the ninth tee box at 2-over, but a birdie on that hole sparked a stretch of three birdies in the next five holes, as she fought back to even par. She made a bogey on the 16th but bounced back with a birdie on the 17th and a par on 18 to wrap up the round at even par.

Junior Amanda Strang and sophomore Suzie Lee are in a tie for 39th with a score of 148 (+4). Strang posted a 3-over 75 for the round. Lee struggled to a 5-over 77 after leading the team with a 71 (-1) on Sunday.

Freshman Justine Dreher also carded a 77 (+5) and is tied for 57th with a two-round total of 151 (+7).

No. 3 Auburn shot a 4-under 284 to move into a tie for the lead with Baylor at 569 (-7). Tulane is third with a score of 576 (E), followed by host UCF (577) and Augusta State (579). Baylor’s Hayley Davis gained sole possession of the lead after carding a 1-under 71 on Monday, taking her two-round score to 139 (-5).

The third round is slated to begin on Tuesday with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. The Gamecocks are paired with Kentucky and Kennesaw State. Live results will be available at golfstatresults.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
T21. Katie Burnett 74-72=146 (+2)
T29. Samantha Swinehart 72-75=147 (+3)
T39. Amanda Strang 73-75=148 (+4)
T39. Suzie Lee 71-77=148 (+4)
T57. Justine Dreher 74-77=151 (+7)
*T29. Meredith Swanson 75-72=147 (+4)
*Playing as an individual

TEAM STANDINGS
T1. Auburn 285-284=569
T1. Baylor 284-285=569
3. Tulane 287-289=576
4. UCF 295-282=577
5. Augusta State 286-293=579
6. South Florida 292-291=583
7. South Carolina 290-299=589
8. Kentucky 297-297=594
9. Kennesaw State 300-295=595
10. Miami 301-296=597
11. Texas 292-306=598
12. UTSA 299-300=599
13. Memphis 300-304=604
14. Mississippi State 308-299=607
15. Kansas 306-302=608
T16. Coastal Carolina 303-308=611
T16. Minnesota 310-301=611
18. Georgia State 302-310=612