April 14, 2013

Results

TEMPE, Ariz. — The South Carolina women’s golf team posted a final-round 296 (+8) to finish in 13th place at the PING ASU Invitational on Sunday at the ASU Karsten Golf Course.

The Gamecocks concluded the week with a 54-hole total of 886 (+22) as they finished ahead of three teams ranked ahead of them in the Golfstat Top 50. Carolina was unable to make a charge up the leaderboard, but South Carolina head coach Kalen Harris feels like her team is moving in the right direction heading into postseason play.

“Overall we played very steady golf this week,” Harris said. “We never seemed to get hot and go low but we continue to build on solid golf. The team should feel confident moving into the SEC Championship next week.”

Junior Suzie Lee carded the low round of the day for the Gamecocks, shooting an even-par 72 that included three birdies and three bogeys. She wrapped up the weekend in a tie for 38th with a total of 220 (+4).

Freshman Sarah Schmelzel finished just short of her second straight top-20 finish after shooting a final-round 74 (+2). She closed out the week in a tie for 27th with a total of 217 (+1).

Senior Meredith Swanson turned in a 76 (+4) on Sunday as she finished the tournament in a tie for 45th with a total of 222 (+6).

Sophomore Justine Dreher and freshman Mary Fran Hillow carded rounds of 74 and 75, respectively. Hillow finished the event in a tie for 63rd with a total of 228 (+12), while Dreher placed 68th with a total of 230 (+14).

Junior Samantha Swinehart, who was playing as an individual, withdrew from the final round.

Third-ranked Alabama fired a final-round 277 (-11) to win the tournament with a total of 845 (-19). No. 2 Duke finished second with a total of 854 (-10), followed by Arizona (862), Stanford (862), Southern California (863) and Arizona State (863). Alabama’s Emma Talley won medalist honors with a 54-hole total of 207 (-9).

The Gamecocks will be back in action on Friday in the first round of the 2013 SEC Championship. The 54-hole event runs through Sunday at Greystone Golf Club in Birmingham, Ala.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTST27. Sarah Schmelzel (1) 70-73-75=218 (+2)T38. Suzie Lee (2)     75-73-72=220 (+4)T45. Meredith Swanson (5)   71-75-76=222 (+6)T63. Mary Fran Hillow (4)   75-78-75=228 (+12)68. Justine Dreher (3)        77-79-74=230 (+14)*WD. Samantha Swinehart   79-79-WD*Played as an individual    WD=Withdrew
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS1. Alabama          284-284-277=845 (-19)2. Duke             280-283-291=854 (-10)T3. Arizona             288-284-290=862 (-2)T3. Stanford            289-282-291=862 (-2)T5. Southern California     283-288-292=863 (-1)T5. Arizona State       291-281-291=863 (-1)7. Texas            286-289-289=864 (E)8. UCLA             279-302-285=866 (+2)9. Texas A&M            287-296-294=877 (+13)10. UC Davis            287-297-295=879 (+15)T11. Washington         292-294-294=880 (+16)T11. TCU            292-285-303=880 (+16)13. South Carolina       291-299-296=886 (+22)14. Oregon          311-299-289=899 (+35)15. UNLV            305-302-307=914 (+50)T16. California         313-302-305=920 (+56)T16. Colorado           298-317-305=920 (+56)