Oct. 7, 2012

Complete Results

ATHENS, Ga. — The South Carolina women’s golf team wrapped up play at the NCAA Fall Preview on Sunday, posting a final-round 309 (+47) at the University of Georgia Golf Course.

Competing against one of the most elite fields in collegiate golf this season with 15 teams in the Golfstat Top 50, the Gamecocks finished 18th with a three-day total of 911 (+47). The tournament served as a preview of the 2013 NCAA Championship, as the top 10 teams from last year’s championship and eight more teams with high rankings made the trip to Athens.

The Gamecocks played one golfer short on Sunday, as junior Suzie Lee withdrew prior to the round with an injury. Freshman Sarah Schmelzel carded the low round for South Carolina for the third straight day with a 2-over 74. A native of Phoenix, Ariz., Schmelzel recorded her first career top-20 finish as she tied for 20th with a total of 220 (+4).

Sophomore Justine Dreher turned in a final-round 76 (+4) to finish the tournament in a tie for 45th with a score of 227 (+11).

Junior Samantha Swinehart was the next Gamecock on the leaderboard as she shot a 78 (+6) to tie for 61st with a total of 230 (+14).

Senior Meredith Swanson placed 79th with a score of 236 (+20) after shooting an 81 (+9) on Sunday.

North Carolina posted the lowest round of the day, a 290 (+2), to win the tournament with a total of 876 (+12). Defending national champion Alabama claimed second with a score of 880 (+16), followed by Auburn (883), Southern California (883) and host Georgia (887).

Texas A&M’s Mary Michael Maggio fired a 5-under 67 to win medalist honors with a total of 213 (-3). Maggio finished one stroke ahead of North Carolina’s Casey Grice (214).

The Gamecocks will play in consecutive weeks for the first time this season as they return to action on Friday in the Tar Heel Invitational. The 54-hole event will be held at the UNC Finley Golf Course in Chapel Hill, N.C.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTST20. Sarah Schmelzel      75-71-74=220 (+4)T45. Justine Dreher        77-74-76=227 (+11)T61. Samantha Swinehart    77-75-78=230 (+14)79. Meredith Swanson         76-79-81=236 (+20)
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS1. North Carolina   297-289-290=876 (+12)2. Alabama      296-289-295=880 (+16)T3. Auburn      287-293-303=883 (+19)T3. Southern Cal    295-297-291=883 (+19)5. Georgia      296-299-292=887 (+23)T6. Oklahoma        299-297-292=888 (+24)T6. Duke        302-295-291=888 (+24)T8. Texas A&M       299-296-298=893 (+29)T8. UCLA        294-305-294=893 (+29)10. Denver      295-302-298=895 (+31)11. Tennessee       302-295-302=899 (+35)12. Virginia        298-302-300=900 (+36)13. Purdue      300-301-301=902 (+38)T14. Tulane         300-300-303=903 (+39)T14. LSU        305-300-298=903 (+39)16. Vanderbilt      297-305-303=905 (+41)17. California      306-300-304=910 (+46)18. South Carolina   305-297-309=911 (+47)