March 15, 2016

TUCSON, Ariz. — Three South Carolina women’s golfers tallied Top-25 finishes at the Wildcat Invitational, which wrapped up on Tuesday at the Sewailo Golf Club. The Gamecocks posted a final-round score of 300 (+12) to place seventh in the 54-hole event with a two-day total of 887 (+23). Host Arizona, which boasted the only round under par (282, -6) on Tuesday, claimed the tournament title, finishing 11 strokes clear of the field at 7-under (857).

Katelyn Dambaugh notched her fourth-straight top-10 finish, as she earned ninth-place honors with an overall score of 216 (E). The junior fired a 2-over 74 in the third round, collecting three birdies over her final 18 holes of tournament play. Starting on the par-5 fourth, the Goose Creek, S.C., native carded a pair of early birdies and played her first nine holes at even. She added another birdie on the par-4 18th and finished her week tied for first in par-4 scoring (3.93).

Fellow junior Jia Xin Yang, who competed as an individual, turned in her best showing of the season, placing 22nd with a three-round total of 221 (+5). After opening her day at 3-over through three holes, Yang settled in and rattled off eight-straight pars. Her round continued to improve following birdies on No. 8 and 10, and her final birdie of the day came on the par-4 12th.

Sarah Schmelzel marked the other Gamecock to finish in the top 25. The senior ended her week in a tie for 18th (220, +4) following her 1-over 73 on Tuesday. She recorded 12 pars in the third round to go along with a birdie on the par-4 18th and an eagle on the par-5 fifth. Her performance this week earned the Phoenix, Ariz., native her fourth top-20 finish of the season.

Sophomore Ainhoa Olarra placed in a tie for 43rd (227, +11) after posting a 3-over 75 in the third round. A birdie on the par-5 fifth helped her play her final nine holes and 1-under, and Olarra finished the week with 10 birdies. Junior Marianna Monaco recorded a third-round score of 78 (+6) to finish in a tie for 52nd (229, +13), while Marion Veysseyre ended the tournament in a tie for 59th at 15-over (231).

Arizona State, which began the day with a one-stroke lead, finished second with a three-round score of 868 (+4), while UNLV was third after totaling a score of 876 (+12). Arizona’s Krystal Quihuis finished at 7-under 209 to capture medalist honors.

Round Changer

Notable

• South Carolina’s four eagles at the Wildcat Invitational were two more than any other school in the field.
• Jia Xin Yang’s 221 (+5) this week marked the lowest 54-hole total for the junior this season.
• Three players finished in the Top 25 individually for the Gamecocks for the second time this spring. South Carolina had three players place in the top 10 at the FSU Match-Up (Feb. 12-14).

Up Next

South Carolina resumes play this spring at the Bryan Park Intercollegiate in Greensboro, N.C. The three-day event, which gets underway on Fri. Apr. 1, takes place at the Bryan Park Golf Course. It will be the Gamecocks’ 13th appearance at the event and the first since 2014, when South Carolina earned runner-up honors with a 39-over 303.