Sept. 11, 2012

Complete Results

HANAHAN, S.C. — The South Carolina women’s golf team put together its best round of the Cougar Classic on Tuesday, posting a final-round 294 (+6) at Yeamans Hall Club.

The Gamecocks wrapped up the event with a three-round total of 899 (+35) as they moved six spots up the leaderboard to finish in 16th place.

After shooting only one round of par or better the first two days, Carolina finished strong, recording two rounds of even par and narrowly missing on a third 72. Freshman Sarah Schmelzel helped lead the way with her second straight 72. Junior Samantha Swinehart also carded a 72, and sophomore Justine Dreher turned in a 1-over 73.

“It was definitely more like Gamecock golf today,” South Carolina head coach Kalen Harris said. “We have three weeks before our next tournament and will be focusing much of our practice in the coming weeks on short game and wedge play. We simply need to play better than we did this week.”

Schmelzel proved to be the Gamecocks’ most steady player at the event, shooting rounds of 75-72-72=219 (+3). She climbed 12 spots up the leaderboard to finish in a tie for 30th. For the third straight day, Schmelzel did not make worse than a bogey as she produced four birdies, four bogeys and 10 pars.

Swinehart bounced back from consecutive rounds of 77 with a 72 on the final day. A native of Lancaster, Ohio, Swinehart tied for 65th with a total of 226 (+10). After recording just one birdie in the first two rounds, she tallied five in the final round to go along with five bogeys and eight pars.

Dreher finished in a tie for 78th with a score of 228 (+12), recording three birdies, four bogeys and 11 pars for her round.

Junior Suzie Lee and senior Meredith Swanson each carded a 5-over 77. Lee tied for 71st with a total of 227 (+11), and Swanson concluded the tournament in a tie for 100th with a score of 232 (+16).

Florida shot a final-round 287 (-1) on its way to winning the tournament with a three-round total of 852 (-12). Duke placed second with a score of 858 (-6), followed by Southern Cal (863), Vanderbilt (864) and Georgia (867).

Florida also had the individual medalist, as Camilla Hedberg produced a final-round 68 (-4) to win by four strokes with a total of 203 (-13).

The Gamecocks will have the rest of September off from competition before returning to action on Oct. 5-7 at the NCAA Fall Preview in Athens, Ga. The 54-hole event will be held at the University of Georgia Golf Course.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTST30. Sarah Schmelzel  75-72-72=219 (+3)T65. Samantha Swinehart 77-77-72=226 (+10)T71. Suzie Lee          75-75-77=227 (+11)T78. Justine Dreher    79-76-73=228 (+12)T100. Meredith Swanson   79-76-77=232 (+16)

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS1. Florida            286-279-287=852 (-12)2. Duke               286-291-281=858 (-6)3. Southern Cal       285-283-295=863 (-1)4. Vanderbilt             289-285-290=864 (E)5. Georgia            287-290-290=867 (+3)6. Auburn             288-288-294=870 (+6)7. NC State               290-291-290=871 (+7)8. Alabama            289-294-294=877 (+13)T9. North Carolina    299-287-292=878 (+14)T9. Tennessee             296-288-294=878 (+14)11. Virginia              286-290-304=880 (+16)12. Wisconsin             292-305-285=882 (+18)13. Penn State            293-296-296=885 (+21)T14. Mississippi      299-293-300=892 (+28)T14. UCF              294-294-304=892 (+28)16. South Carolina     306-299-294=899 (+35)17. Wake Forest       297-301-302=900 (+36)18. LSU               303-292-307=902 (+38)T19. Coll. of Charleston  300-296-310=906 (+42)T19. Miami            300-301-305=906 (+42)21. Maryland              309-295-308=912 (+48)22. UNCG              300-301-312=913 (+49)23. Furman            307-300-312=919 (+55)24. Charleston Southern   299-313-322=934 (+70)