Oct. 5, 2012

ATHENS, Ga. — The South Carolina women’s golf team posted a 17-over 305 on Friday in the opening round of the NCAA Fall Preview at the University of Georgia Golf Course.

The Gamecocks wrapped up the round in a tie for 16th place with LSU. The tournament, which serves as a preview of the 2013 NCAA Championship, saw plenty of high scores on Friday. Only one team finished the day under par, and all but one hole played over par.

“With the exception of the ninth and 18th holes today, we played pretty solid golf as a team,” South Carolina head coach Kalen Harris said. “Our five players played those holes 6-over and 4-over, respectively. We have some work to do over the next two days, but several teams are within our reach.”

After making a stellar collegiate debut at the Cougar Classic, freshman Sarah Schmelzel continued her steady play on Friday, shooting a 3-over 75 to lead the team. Schmelzel, who recorded two birdies, five bogeys and 11 pars, is in a tie for 32nd.

Schmelzel began the day on the 10th hole and made back-to-back bogeys to start the round. She bounced back with five pars and birdies on the 14th and 18th holes to make the turn at even. She made a bogey on hole No. 2 to drop to 1-over and she also bogeyed No. 7 and No. 9 to finish her day with a 75.

Senior Meredith Swanson carded the next lowest round for the Gamecocks as she shot a 4-over 76. Swanson started the day with a double bogey on the 10th but played 2-over the rest of the way to get into the clubhouse in a tie for 42nd.

Juniors Suzie Lee and Samantha Swinehart and sophomore Justine Dreher are all in a tie for 54th after each shooting a 5-over 77.

Auburn finished the day atop the leaderboard after turning in a 1-under 287. UCLA is in second with a score of 294 (+6), followed by Southern California (295), Denver (295), Georgia (296) and Alabama (296).

UCLA’s Erynne Lee fired a 4-under 68 to grab the individual lead. Lee holds a one-shot advantage over Georgia’s Collins Bradshaw and Denver’s Tonje Daffinrud.

The Gamecocks will tee off in the second round on Saturday beginning at 9:40 a.m. and will be paired with LSU and California. Live scoring will be available at golfstatresults.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTST32. Sarah Schmelzel  75 (+3)T42. Meredith Swanson    76 (+4)T54. Justine Dreher    77 (+5)T54. Suzie Lee      77 (+5)T54. Samantha Swinehart 77 (+5)
TEAM STANDINGS1. Auburn       287 (-1)2. UCLA         294 (+6)T3. Southern Cal    295 (+7)T3. Denver      295 (+7)T5. Georgia         296 (+8)T5. Alabama         296 (+8)T7. North Carolina  297 (+9)T7. Vanderbilt      297 (+9)9. Virginia         298 (+10)T10. Oklahoma       299 (+11)T10. Texas A&M          299 (+11)T12. Tulane         300 (+12)T12. Purdue         300 (+12)T14. Tennessee      302 (+14)T14. Duke       302 (+14)T16. South Carolina  305 (+17)T16. LSU        305 (+17)18. California      306 (+18)