Feb. 12, 2013

Complete Results

SORRENTO, Fla. — The South Carolina women’s golf team posted a final-round 293 (+5) on Tuesday to finish in seventh place in the UCF Challenge at RedTail Golf Club.

The Gamecocks wrapped up the week with a 54-hole total of 883 (+19), which was one stroke shy of cracking the top 10 in school history.

“We had two solid days of play, but the second day put us in a tough spot,” South Carolina head coach Kalen Harris said. “There are a lot of great things to build on in our first showing of the spring.”

South Carolina had two golfers finish in the top 20 on Tuesday, as sophomore Justine Dreher matched her career best with a tie for 12th finish and freshman Mary Fran Hillow tied for 18th in her first collegiate appearance.

Dreher carded a 2-over 74 in the final round to close out the event with a career-best total of 218 (+2). She started her round on the sixth hole and got off to a strong start with birdies on two of her first four holes. However, Dreher played the final 14 holes at 4-over to finish her day with a 74.

Hillow, who played as an individual and did not count toward the team score, continued her steady play with a 1-over 73. A native of Orlando, Fla., Hillow turned in a 54-hole total of 219 (+3). She recorded two birdies, three bogeys and 13 pars for her round.

Junior Samantha Swinehart narrowly missed a top 20 finish as she shot a 74 (+2) to tie for 21st with a total of 221 (+5). On the afternoon, Swinehart tallied two birdies, two bogeys, a double bogey and 13 pars.

Junior Suzie Lee had the best round of the day for the Gamecocks as she turned in an even-par 72, recording three birdies, a bogey, a double bogey and 13 pars. Lee finished the tournament tied for 36th with a total of 224 (+8). Freshman Chelsey Couch also tied for 36th after shooting a final-round 73 (+1) that included three birdies, four bogeys and 11 pars. Rounding out the lineup for South Carolina, freshman Sarah Schmelzel shot a 77 (+5) to finish tied for 54th with a score of 228 (+12).

Ninth-ranked North Carolina captured the team title with a total of 854 (-10), followed by Tulane (871), host UCF (876), Miami (877) and Virginia (879). Virginia’s Briana Mao claimed medalist honors by one stroke with a score of 212 (-4).

The Gamecocks return to action on March 8-10 when they host the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate. The 54-hole tournament will be played at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head Island, S.C.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTST12. Justine Dreher (1)       68-76-74=218 (+2)T21. Samantha Swinehart (3)   71-76-74=221 (+5)T36. Suzie Lee (4)     74-78-72=224 (+8)T36. Chelsey Couch (5)     75-76-73=224 (+8)T54. Sarah Schmelzel (2) 71-80-77=228 (+12)*T18. Mary Fran Hillow      72-74-73=219 (+3)*Played as an individual
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS1. North Carolina       287-278-289=854 (-10)2. Tulane           288-293-290=871 (+7)3. UCF              287-294-295=876 (+12)4. Miami            293-295-289=877 (+13)5. Virginia             296-292-291=879 (+15)6. East Carolina        289-298-295=882 (+18)7. South Carolina        284-306-293=883 (+19)8. Texas State          293-298-298=889 (+25)9. Augusta State        287-300-303=890 (+26)10. Mississippi         296-295-301=892 (+28)11. Louisville          299-302-300=901 (+37)12. Coastal Carolina        302-300-301=903 (+39)T13. Missouri           300-308-298=906 (+42)T13. Kennesaw State         292-314-300=906 (+42)15. College of Charleston   299-308-300=907 (+43)16. South Florida       297-301-314=912 (+48)17. Georgia State       304-311-308=923 (+59)18. Oregon State        305-312-311=928 (+64)