Gamecocks Take Second Place At Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship

Sept. 22, 2013

KNOXVILLE, TENN. –

The South Carolina women’s golf team shot an 8-over 292 on Sunday at Cherokee Country Club to finish in second place at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship hosted by the University of Tennessee. After Saturday’s round was postponed due to weather, the Gamecocks concluded the tournament with a two-round score of 571 (+3).

No. 8 Arkansas finished in first place with a two-round score of 563 (-5). No. 18 Tulane finished eight strokes behind South Carolina to take third.

“I was really proud of the way all the girls played,” said head coach Kalen Harris. “We got off to a little bit of rocky start today but we just hung in there. We got it back to right around even with Arkansas, obviously they (Arkansas) came in really strong at the end. We played really well the first day and then with the rain yesterday we only had today. We placed four out of six in the top-12, which really speaks to our depth. It was a great course and a great event and today just wasn’t our day but we saw a lot of positive and we’ve got a lot of people playing a lot of great golf.”

Samantha Swinehart led the way for the Garnet and Black finishing in a tie for second place, which is a new career-best and marks the first ever top-five finish for the senior. The native of Lancaster, Ohio, shot an even-par 71 on Sunday to conclude the tournament with a two-round score of 140 (-2) and recorded a team-best eight birdies.

Mary Fran Hillow came in next on the leaderboard for South Carolina in seventh place, which marks a new career-best and the first ever top-ten finish for the sophomore. Hillow posted an even-par 71 in the final round to finish with a two-round score of 141 (-1).

In only her second collegiate appearance, freshman Katelyn Dambaugh also recorded a new career-best finish ending the tournament in a tie for eighth. Dambaugh shot a final-round 3-over 74 giving her a two-round score of 142 (E).

Sophomore Sarah Schmelzel, who competed in the tournament as an individual, shot a final-round 73 (+2) for a total score of 143 (+1) and finished in a tie for 12th. Schmelzel registered a birdie and two bogeys on the day

Senior Suzie Lee and junior Justine Dreher both shot a 5-over 76 in Sunday’s final round. Lee finished in a tie for 32^nd with a two-round score of 148 (+6) and Dreher had a two-round score of 149 (+7) to finish in a tie for 39^th.

Arkansas’ Emily Tubert took first place on the individual leaderboard with a two-round score of 137 (-5). Silvia Garces of Tulane, Gabby Lopez and Regina Plascencia of Arkansas, Chessey Thomas of Tennessee, along with Swinehart tied for second place with a total score of 140 (-2).

The Gamecocks will be back in action Oct. 11-13 as they travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., for the Tar Heel Invitational.

South Carolina Results

Samantha Swinehart (2) 69-71= 140 (-2)

Mary Fran Hillow (5) 70-71= 141 (-1)

Katelyn Dambaugh (4) 68-74= 142 (E)

Suzie Lee (3) 72-76=148 (+6)

Justine Dreher (1) 73-76=149 (+7)

*Sarah Schmelzel 70-73=143 (+1)

*Competed as an individual

Team Standings

1. Arkansas 282-281= 563 (-5)

2. South Carolina 279-292= 571 (+8)