Oct. 10, 2014

First Round Results

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – No. 2 South Carolina continued its hot start to the season, leading after the first round of the Tar Heel Invitational. The Gamecocks shot a 1-under 287 at the University of North Carolina’s Finley Golf Course on Friday to open the weekend with a one-stroke edge.

The Gamecocks dropped to No. 2 in this week’s Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings released today. The University of Washington took over the top spot after winning its first tournament of the season this week. The Huskies jumped the Gamecocks due to their 19-stroke victory over Stanford, the teams’ only common opponent. South Carolina bested the Cardinal by 10 shots at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate. The Gamecocks are 9-0-0 against the top 25 while Washington is 2-0-0.

Junior Mary Fran Hillow and freshman Nanna Madsen led the Gamecocks today, with each golfer carding a 3-under 69. The pair finished the day tied for fourth. The total is a new low 18-hole collegiate score for Hillow. Madsen shot a 69 in the first round of the ANNIKA Intercollegiate.

At 2-over (74), Katelyn Dambaugh is tied for 29th. Senior Justine Dreher posted her first over-par round of the season, firing a 3-over 75 (T43). Today’s drop score was sophomore Jia Xin Yang (T65) with a 77 (+5).

Competing as an individual, freshman Ainhoa Olarra competed her first round of collegiate golf. Olarra fired a 7-over 77 (T81).

South Carolina was the only team to produce an under-par round. Wake Forest and Duke are tied for second after rounds of even par, with NC State at 1 over and Oregon at 3 over to round out the top five. The top five teams are separated by just four strokes.

Three players are tied at the top of the individual leaderboard at 4 under (68), Marissa Dodd of Wake Forest, Augusta James of NC State and Celine Boutier of Duke. The Gamecocks, Hillow and Madsen, are tied for fourth just behind at 3 under.

ROUND CHANGER

After making the turn at 8-under, the conditions changed and the Gamecocks battled to keep their lead heading into the second round.

KEY STAT Junior Mary Fran Hillow and freshman Nanna Madsen carded five birdies apiece in today’s round.

NOTABLES

• The Gamecock lineup carded 12 birdies on the front nine and made the turn at 8-under. Four Gamecocks finished the front nine under par.
• South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Oregon led the field with 18 birdies in the first round.
• Senior Justine Dreher produced her fourth-straight bogey-free front nine of the season today.
• Junior Mary Fran Hillow leads the field in par-3 scoring, shooting 2-under in the first round.
• This weekend’s 18-team field features 10 teams in the top 25 and eight SEC programs.

QUOTABLE South Carolina Head Coach Kalen Anderson
The team played very well today. We were 8 or 9-under with 6 or 7 holes to play and, unfortunately, we struggled in our finish. We are fortunate to still be leading the golf tournament. The wind picked up later in the day, so all teams seemed to have a bit of trouble finishing. Mary Fran (Hillow) and Nanna (Madsen) did a tremendous job for us today. All five players are playing confidently and very well. We look forward to the next two days.

UP NEXT The Gamecocks are set to begin the second round of the Tar Heel Invitational tomorrow morning.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS T4. Mary Fran Hillow 69 (-3)
T4. Nanna Madsen 69 (-3)
T29. Katelyn Dambaugh 74 (+2)
T43. Justine Dreher 75 (+3)
T65. Jia Xin Yang 77 (+5)
T81. Ainhoa Olarra (indiv.) 79 (+7)

TEAM STANDINGS

1. South Carolina 287 (-1)
T2. Duke 288 (E)
T2. Wake Forest 288 (E)
4. NC State 289 (+1)
5. Oregon 219 (+3)
T6. Vanderbilt 293 (+5)
T6. Florida 293 (+5)
T8. Louisville 296 (+8)
T8. LSU 296 (+8)
T10. Arkansas 298 (+10)
T10. Virginia 298 (+10)
T10. North Carolina 298 (+10)
T10. Auburn 298 (+10)
14. Oklahoma 299 (+11)
15. Rollins College 300 (+12)
16. Michigan State 301 (+13)
17. Alabama 303 (+15)
18. Mississippi 310 (+22)