May 6, 2016

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BATON ROUGE, La. — South Carolina posted a program-record 277 (-11) in round two of the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional to build a commanding eight-stroke lead on Friday at University Club. Three Gamecocks shot under par for the No. 24 Gamecocks, who sit at 9-under (567) through two days at the 54-hole event.

Friday’s performance was two shots better than South Carolina’s previous 18-hole record, a 279 at the 2013 Mercedes-Benz Collegiate, and it was the second-lowest round ever at University Club. Washington, which began round two with the lead, sits in second place (575, -1) while Florida is in third (580, +4) after posting the second-lowest round on Friday.

Junior Katelyn Dambaugh, who holds a four-shot individual lead with a two-round total of 136 (-8), led the charge, firing a 6-under 66. Senior Sarah Schmelzel (T8, E) and sophomore Ainhoa Olarra (T11, +1) both posted a 69 (-3) in round two, while freshman Isidora Nilsson shot a 73 (+1) to move up the individual leaderboard. All five Gamecocks currently sit in the top-25 at the tournament.

Dambaugh continued her birdie barrage on Friday, finishing her round with seven birdies, including three over her final six holes. She made the turn at 2-under 34 and opened her back nine with a birdie on the par-4 10th. Back-to-back birdies on No. 13 and 14 pushed her to 5-under on her round, and her final birdie of the day came on No. 17. A key up-and-down on the par-4 18th secured a 66 (-6) for the Goose Creek, S.C., native, who has totaled a tournament-best 13 birdies this week.

Schmelzel began her day with a birdie on the par-4 first and added two more to post a front-nine 34 (-2). After a bogey on No. 10, the senior played her final eight holes at 2-under after notching back-to-back birdies on No. 14 and 15. Schmelzel ranks second in par-4 scoring (3.95) through two rounds this week.

Olarra was once again paced by solid play on the front nine, as she made the turn at 2-under 34 following birdies on No. 6 and 9. She too registered birdies on No. 14 and 15 and finished her round with three-straight pars to match her career-best 18 hole score.

Nilsson’s 73 (+1) moved her into a tie for 25th at 4-over 148 for the tournament. The freshman, who is making her postseason debut this week, rebounded from two-straight bogeys to start her round and shot par or better on her remaining 16 holes. Her lone birdie of the day came on the par-4 10th.

Freshman Marion Veysseyre (T23) fired a 77 (+5) to bring her two-day total to 147 (+3). She began her round with a birdie on No. 1 and finished Friday with 13 pars. The Lachapelle-Auzac, France, native is one of three Gamecocks to rank in the top-five in par-4 scoring this week.

Quoting Coach Kalen Anderson

Round Changer

Notable

• South Carolina’s 567 (-9) is the lowest 36-hole total to start a 54-hole event in program history.
• Friday’s 567 was the lowest round at University Club since the venue was renovated back in 2010.
• The Gamecocks are the only team with all five golfers currently in the top-25 for the week.
• Junior Katelyn Dambaugh has finished par or better in each of South Carolina’s five postseason rounds.
• South Carolina ranks first in the field this week in par-4 scoring (4.06) and second in par-3 (2.95) and par-5 (4.90) scoring.

Up Next

South Carolina will head into the final day at the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional with an eight-stroke lead. The Gamecocks, who begin round three at 9:09 (CT), will be paired with Washington and Florida. Visit Golfstat.com for a full listing of Saturday’s tee times.