March 5, 2016

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Women’s golfers Katelyn Dambaugh and Sarah Schmelzel each posted a 1-over 72 to lead South Carolina in Saturday’s second round of the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate at Long Cove Club. The Gamecocks, who fired a 291 (+7) on day two of the 54-hole event, will head into the final round in 12th place at 26-over (594).

Beginning her day on hole No. 10, Dambaugh moved up into a tie for 23rd place (147, +5) on the individual leaderboard after another par-filled round. She made the turn at 1-over 36 following pars on eight of her first nine holes, and her first birdie of the day on the par-3 second dropped the junior to even on her round. Dambaugh added another birdie on No. 6 before turning in a back-nine total of 36 (E).

Schmelzel responded from an early bogey with birdies on No. 11 and 16, and the Phoenix, Ariz., native stood at even (35) through nine holes. Her final birdie of the round came on the par-4 fifth, and she registered pars on each of her last four holes. The senior currently sits in tie for 39th with a two-day total of 149 (+7).

Freshman Marion Veysseyre provided the other bright spot for the Gamecocks, as she shot a 73 (+2). After recording three bogeys early in her round, the South Carolina newcomer settled down and shot par or better on each of her final 13 holes. Veysseyre made the turn at 3-over 38 before carding a 35 (-1) on the back nine, and she will begin the final round in a tie for 47th after totaling a 150 (+8) through the first two days.

Sophomore Ainhoa Olarra, who notched three birdies in the opening round, turned in her second-straight 3-over 74 on Saturday. She earned pars on 15 of 18 holes and her two-round score of 148 (+6) stands as the 36th-best total on the individual leaderboard.

Jia Xin Yang also collected a handful of pars on the way to a second-round 6-over 77. She registered pars on 15 holes to go along with a birdie on the par-4 fifth, but a pair of triple-bogeys plagued the junior on day two. Yang sits in a tie for 80th (156, +14) through two rounds. Competing as individuals, junior Marianna Monaco recorded a 3-over 74 and freshman Isidora Nilsson carded a 8-over 79. Monaco is in a tie for 68th place at 11-over for the tournament, while Nilsson (161, +19) is 89th among individuals.

Fifth-place Georgia (583, +15) marked the only school to finish under par in round two, as the Bulldogs posted a 2-under 282. Alabama (576, +8) remained atop the leaderboard despite a 14-over 298 on Saturday, while Virginia (579, +11), Vanderbilt (582, +14) and Oklahoma State (582, +14) round out the top three of the team standings. Virginia’s Lauren Coughlin and Vanderbilt’s Alexandra Farnsworth lead all individuals with a two-round total of 139 (-3).

Quoting Coach Kalen Anderson

Round Changer

Notables

• Four players in South Carolina’s lineup improved from their opening round performances. Senior Sarah Schmelzel’s 1-over (72) was five strokes better than her total on Friday.
• Marion Veysseyre’s 2-over 73 in the second round marked the lowest 18-hole score for the freshman.
• South Carolina’s 123 pars this week are the third-highest total in the field.

Up Next

South Carolina is back on the course at Long Cove Club Sunday morning when it concludes play at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate. The Gamecocks will be playing with Duke and USC, and tomorrow’s tee times can be found HERE.