Women's Golf . February 16, 2014

Gamecocks Win Florida State Match-Up

Feb. 16, 2014

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –

The South Carolina women’s golf team shot a 3-under 285 on Sunday at the SouthWood Golf Club to claim first place at the Florida State Match-Up hosted by Florida State University. The Gamecocks finished with a total score of 871 (+7).

South Carolina finished two strokes ahead Clemson, as the Tigers took second place with a total score of 873 (+9). Florida State finished in third place, carding an 811 (+17).

“I’m really proud of the team,” said head coach Kalen Harris. “With Clemson, coming down the stretch it was really tight all day. I’m proud of the way they played, they played well and it was fun to play well and battle until the end. It was nice to see everyone step up throughout the week. Everyone really contributed.”

Five golfers finished in the top-20 with Sarah Schmelzel leading the way. The Phoenix, Ariz., native carded a 2-under 70 in the final round to finish in second place with a score of 214 (-4). This marks a new career-best finish for the sophomore, and the second top-five finish of her career. Katelyn Dambaugh (T-7th), Samantha Swinehart (T-12th), Jia Xin Yang (T-12th) and Justine Dreher (T-16th) also finished in the top-20.

Dambaugh fired a 5-under 67 in the final round tallying five birdies and finishing with a total score of 219 (+3). The tie for seventh place is Dambaugh’s third top-ten finish of the season.

Senior Samantha Swinehart and freshman Jia Xin Yang, who competed in the tournament as an individual, finished the tournament with a total score of 222 (+6) after recording a 1-over 73 and an even-par 72, respectively, in the final round. This is Swinehart’s eighth top-20 finish of her career and third of the season.

Dreher shot a final round 76 (+4) to finish with a total score of 224 (+8). The junior’s tie for 16^th place marks her third top-20 finish of the season and ninth of her career.

Senior Suzie Lee finished in a tie for 25^th place after carding a 3-over 75 in the final round for a total score of 225 (+9)

Matilda Castren of Florida State finished in first place on the individual leaderboard, carding a 206 (-10) Schmelzel finished four strokes behind Castren to claim second place and Ally McDonald of Mississippi State and Ashlan Ramsey of Clemson tied for third with a total score of 214 (-2).

In the match-up portion of the tournament, South Carolina and Mississippi State finished in second place, two strokes behing the duo of Clemson and Virginia.

The Gamecocks will be back in action March 7-9 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 Results

Sarah Schmelzel 70-72-70=212 (-4)

Katelyn Dambaugh 74-78-67=219 (+3)

Samantha Swinehart 77-72-73=222 (+6)

Justine Dreher 76-72-76=224 (+8)

Suzie Lee 73-77-75=229 (+9)

Jia Xin Yang 72-78-72=222 (+6)

Team Standings

1. South Carolina 293-293-285=871 (+7)

2. Clemson 297-292-284=873 (+9)

3. Florida State 294-298-289=881 (+17)

4. Virginia 298-296-294=888 (+24)