May 10, 2014

Results | Photo Gallery

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The South Carolina women’s golf team shot an 8-under 280 on Saturday in the final round of the NCAA East Regional at Southwood Golf Club in Tallahassee, Fla. The Gamecocks finished the tournament in second place, with a score of 854 (-10) and will advance to the NCAA Championship for the fifth-straight year.

The Gamecocks’ 54-hole score of 854 is just one stroke behind the school record of 853, which was set earlier this season at the PING ASU Invitational.

“The team did a phenomenal job,” said head coach Kalen Harris. “They continue to do what they do. They were in a little bit of a hole after the first day but they responded like they do every week and really played extremely well these last two days. We came back and finished second, which is just amazing.”

Vanderbilt won the regional title with a score of 840 (-24). NC State, Duke, Stanford, Virginia, Tulane and Campbell also placed in the top eight and will advance to the NCAA Championship.

Junior Justine Dreher led the way for the Garnet and Black, firing a final-round 6-under 66, which is a new career low and ties a program record for low 18-hole score. She concluded the regional in a tie for fourth place, earning her second top-five finish of the season. Dreher’s 54-hole score of 211 (-5) is a new career low and ties a school record for seventh best low 54-hole.

Senior Samantha Swinehart shot a 3-under 69 in the final round, giving her a total score of 212 (-4), which ties a program record for 10th best low 54-hole score. She wrapped up the regional in a tie for seventh place, which marks her fifth top-10 finish of the season.

Freshman Katelyn Dambaugh was the next highest Gamecock on the leaderboard as she finished in a tie for 24th place. Dambaugh carded a 1-under 71 in the final round and finished with a three-round score of 217 (+1).

Sophomore Sarah Schmelzel carded a 2-over 74 in the final round to wrap up the tournament in a tie for 29th place with a 54-hole score of 218 (+2).

Rounding out the lineup, senior Suzie Lee turned in a final-round 74 (+2) to finish in a tie for 65th place with a total of 224 (+8).

Jenny Hahn of Vanderbilt finished atop the individual leaderboard with a score of 207 (-9).

The Gamecocks will have a week off before returning to the course at the NCAA Championship. This year’s 72-hole event will be held May 20-23 at the Tulsa Country Club in Tulsa, Okla. South Carolina finished 20th at last year’s NCAA Championship and in 2012 claimed fifth place, which is the highest finish at the event in program history.

South Carolina ResultsJustine Dreher            75-70-66=211 (-5)Samantha Swinehart        73-70-69=212 (-4)Katelyn Dambaugh        76-70-71=217 (+1)Sarah Schmelzel              71-73-74=218 (+2)Suzie Lee          72-78-74=224 (+8)
Team Standings1. Vanderbilt           277-289-274=840 (-24)2. South Carolina        291-283-280=854 (-10)T3. NC State            286-294-280=860 (-4)T3. Duke            284-288-288=860  (-4)5. Stanford         291-286-289=866 (+2)6. Virginia             283-292-294=869 (+5)7. Tulane           280-294-297=871 (+7)8. Campbell         291-290-298=879 (+15)9. Pepperdine           290-297-293=880 (+16)10. Baylor          297-300-284=881 (+17)T11. Florida State      290-295-297=882 (+18)T11. East Tennessee State   298-300-293=882 (+18)13. Texas State             298-299-297=885 (+21)14. East Carolina       297-295-294=886 (+22)15. Auburn          293-301-293=887 (+23)16. Georgia         298-296-294=888 (+24)17. UCF                 298-303-298=890 (+26)18. Louisville          295-301-300=896 (+32)19. Kentucky            295-304-299=898 (+34)20. Troy            296-308-303=907 (+43)21. Seton Hall          302-301-309=912 (+48)22. College of Charleston   299-308-307=914 (+50)23. Murray State        307-316-311=934 (+70)24. Alabama State       315-314-398=937 (+73)