Oct. 12, 2012

Complete Results

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The South Carolina women’s golf team posted a 10-over 298 on Friday in the first round of the Tar Heel Invitational at the UNC Finley Golf Course.

The Gamecocks finished the day in sixth place and are 12 strokes back of tournament leader Virginia. The Cavaliers carded a 2-under 286. The round of 298 is the best opening round for South Carolina this season.

“Overall it was a good start,” South Carolina head coach Kalen Harris said. “We had three players under par on the front nine at one point. There are a lot of positives to take from today. We are in a good position moving into the next two days.”

Freshman Sarah Schmelzel and junior Samantha Swinehart each carded an even-par 72 to lead the way for the Gamecocks on Friday. The duo is in a large group that is tied for ninth, just five strokes off the lead.

Schmelzel got off to a strong start as she moved to 1-under with a birdie on the par-5 third. However, she played the final six holes at 2-over to make the turn with a (+37). Back-to-back birdies on the 11th and 12th holes moved her back to 1-under before a bogey on No. 16 dropped her back to even, where she finished the day.

Swinehart was on zoned in on the pin at the start of her round as she birdied three of her first five holes to get to 3-under, but bogeys on holes six, seven and nine left her at even par at the turn. She wrapped up her round with two birdies, two bogeys and five pars on the back nine.

Senior Meredith Swanson is in a tie for 41st after turning in a 4-over 76. Junior Suzie Lee and sophomore Justine Dreher each shot a 6-over 78 and are in a tie for 64th.

Making her collegiate debut as an individual, Gamecock freshman Chelsey Couch shot a 79 (+7) and is tied for 71st.

Virginia holds a two-shot lead over North Carolina (288) and Baylor (288). LSU is in fourth with a score of 294 (+6), and Duke is fifth with a total of 296 (+8).

Baylor’s Hayley Davis fired a 5-under 67 to take the individual lead. Davis will enter the second round with a two-shot lead over Virginia’s Brittany Altomare (69).

The Gamecocks will be paired with LSU and Duke in the second round and will tee off beginning at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday. Live scoring will be available by clicking here.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTST9. Sarah Schmelzel (1)   72 (E)T9. Samantha Swinehart (3)     72 (E)T41. Meredith Swanson (4)    76 (+4)T64. Justine Dreher (2)    78 (+6)T64. Suzie Lee (5)      78 (+6)*T71. Chelsey Couch         79 (+7)*Playing as an individual
TEAM STANDINGS1. Virginia         286 (-2)T2. North Carolina  288 (E)T2. Baylor      288 (E)4. LSU          294 (+6)5. Duke         296 (+8)6. South Carolina    298 (+10)7. Mississippi      299 (+11)8. NC State         300 (+12)T9. Arkansas        301 (+13)T9. Florida         301 (+13)11. Michigan State  302 (+14)T12. Louisville     304 (+16)T12. Wake Forest    304 (+16)14. Kentucky        305 (+17)15. UCF         307 (+19)T16. Colorado       311 (+23)T16. 11 Auburn      311 (+23)18. Michigan        319 (+31)