May 16, 2016

COLUMBIA, S.C. ââ’¬” South Carolina women’s golf head coach Kalen Anderson and junior Katelyn Dambaugh addressed the media on Monday morning in a press conference held at Williams-Brice Stadium. The pair of Gamecocks previewed this week’s NCAA Women’s Golf Championship, which takes place May 20-25 at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Ore.

No. 18 South Carolina heads to Oregon with momentum following its second-straight NCAA Regional title. The Gamecocks captured a share of the Baton Rouge Regional earlier this month at University Club, winning a regional for the fourth time in the last seven years. Dambaugh grabbed her first career medalist honors, as the Goose Creek, S.C., native matched the program’s 54-hole record (207) for the second time this season.

This year marks South Carolina’s seventh-straight appearance at the NCAA Championship and its 16^th trip to the tournament overall. The Gamecocks are one of just five schools to reach the event in each of the last seven years.

See below for some of Anderson and Dambaugh’s comments on Monday.

Women’s Golf Coach Kalen Anderson
Opening Statement
“We’re excited to get out there and see the golf course. We’ve been getting some preparation in, and I’m just really proud of how the team’s come through in the last several weeks in the postseason. We’re looking forward to good things out there.”

On South Carolina looking to break through at the NCAA Championship
“That’s what we want to do. Our goals are high, but we have to take it one day at a time. It’s a little bit of a marathon out there, but a lot can happen when you get into match play. We have a good group that is excited. We’re a little bit of the underdogs then in years past, and I think that takes some of the pressure off. It’s a good position for us to be in.”

On how the Gamecocks have been able to improve and come together this season
“It was a difficult fall for us, we definitely didn’t post the results we wanted to. Kate and Sarah (Schmelzel) were playing extremely well, and I think that challenged the others in the offseason to step up. Ainhoa Olarra has played a huge role for us in that, she really made a difference and was one of our key players in the spring. Marion Veysseyre was a big boost for us as well. She’s still getting her feet under her, but her experience in the lineup has helped. They buy in, and we seem to peak at this time of the year.”

Women’s Junior Golfer Katelyn Dambaugh
On if last year’s disappointing showing at the NCAA Championship will serve as motivation
“We obviously don’t have the success we had last year going into it, but I think now we’re a lot more calm and relaxed. Coming off the win at regionals, now we have more momentum. I think we have a good chance to go in there and do some good things with the way we’re playing right now.”

On how the mix of older and younger players on the team works for the Gamecocks
“Sarah and I have been here long enough to understand their position. We’ve been there with Justine (Dreher), who was our number one player. She was like a mother to us on and off the golf course. We know exactly where they’re coming from, and all we’re trying to do is help them succeed as much as they can.”