Gamecocks Claim 6-Stroke Win at PING ASU Invitational

April 6, 2014

TEMPE, Ariz. –

The seventh-ranked South Carolina women’s golf team finished with an 11-under 853, which is a new program record, at the PING ASU Invitational to claim first place. The Gamecocks shot a 3-under 285 in Sunday’s final round at the ASU Karsten Golf Course.

“We had a very impressive week,” said head coach Kalen Harris. “Everyone contributed with an important round. Katelyn [Dambaugh] had a 4-under on day one, Sarah [Schmelzel] was four under on day two and Samantha [Swinehart] shot a 6-under on day three. Justine [Dreher] played steady as usual and Suzie [Lee] was solid in her final two rounds. The team didn’t let up and played to win.”

This is the Gamecocks’ second title of the season and they close out the regular season with seven-straight top-five finishes. South Carolina finished the tournament ahead of four teams ranked higher than them in the Golfstat Top 50, including No. 2 UCLA and No. 3 Duke. No. 11 Washington and No. 6 Arizona State tied for second place, six strokes behind South Carolina with a 54-hole score of 859 (-5).

Four golfers wrapped up the event in the top-20 with Samantha Swinehart leading the way. Swinehart fired a 6-under 66 in the final round, which is a new career-low, on her way to a total score of 211 (-5), also a career-low. The senior concluded the tournament in a tie for third place, which marks her second top-five finish of the season. Katelyn Dambaugh (T-12^th), Justine Dreher (T-12^th) and Sarah Schmelzel (T-20^th) also finished in the top-20.

Dambaugh and Dreher each finished with an even-par 216. Dambaugh earned her fifth top-20 finish of the season after carding a 1-over 73 in the final round while Dreher carded her third-straight round of 72 (E) on Sunday and has now placed in the top-20 six times this season.

Schmelzel concluded the event with a total score of 218 (+2) after shooting a 5-over 77 in the third round. The sophomore has now placed in the top-20 three times this season.

Senior Suzie Lee turned in a 2-over 74 on Sunday as she finished in a tie for 33^rd place with a 221 (+5).

Sophomore Mary Fran Hillow, who competed in the tournament as an individual, shot a 3-over 75 in the third round. Hillow finished with a total of 224 (+8) and tied for 47^th place.

Celine Boutier of Duke claimed the individual title with an 8-under 208. Noemi Jimenez of Arizona State took second place with a 6-under 210.

The Gamecocks will be back in action April 18 in the first round of the 2014 SEC Championship. The 54-hole event will be held at the Greystone Golf Club in Birmingham, Ala.

South Carolina Results
Samantha Swinehart 75-70-66=211 (-5)
Katelyn Dambaugh 68-74-73=216 (E)
Justine Dreher 72-72-72=216 (E)
Sarah Schmelzel 73-68-77=218 (+2)
Suzie Lee 77-70-74=221 (+5)
Mary Fran Hillow 78-71-75=224 (+8)

Team Standings
1. South Carolina 288-280-285=853 (-11)
T2. Washington 284-291-284=859 (-5)
T2. Arizona State 287-287-285=859 (-5)
T2. Duke 290-284-285=859 (-5)
5. Arizona 288-288-292=868 (+4)
6. UCLA 291-294-287=872 (+8)
7. Stanford 295-285-296=876 (+12)
8. California 291-292-298=881 (+17)
9. Texas 294-292-297=883 (+19)
10. Oregon 291-296-297=884 (+20)
T11. Oklahoma 296-303-294=893 (+29)
T11. UC Davis 300-298-295=893 (+29)
13. Vanderbilt 300-302-303=905 (+41)
14. Oregon State 308-303-301=912 (+48)
15. Washington State 301-313-303=917 (+53)