Feb. 12, 2017

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — South Carolina women’s golf earned runner-up honors at the Florida State Match-Up in historic fashion, totaling a program-record 847 (-17) at the 54-hole event. The No. 13 Gamecocks posted a final-round 286 (-2) Sunday at the Don Veller Seminole Course, while Carolina freshman standout Ana Pelaez finished at 8-under 208 to cap off her impressive weekend with runner-up accolades of her own.

Pelaez shot a 70 (-2) on the final day, as the Malaga, Spain, native finished under par for the third-straight round. Gamecock senior Katelyn Dambaugh (211, -5) placed seventh, and junior Ainhoa Olarra (213, -3) grabbed eighth-place honors. Carolina sophomore Marion Veysseyre marked the fourth Gamecock to boast a top-10 showing, finishing tied for 10th with a three-day total of 215 (-1).

No. 4 Florida State carded a final-round 279 (-9) on the way to a 10-shot victory. The host Seminoles finished at 27-under 837, while No. 23 Texas A&M (850, -14), No. 20 Oklahoma (864, E) and Missouri (876, +12) rounded out the top five.

Pelaez, whose 208 marked the lowest 54-hole score by a Carolina freshman in school history, turned in a steady final round Sunday. She recorded pars on 16 of her 18 holes and added birdies on the par-4 second and par-4 14th. Pelaez was one of four Gamecocks to total double-digit birdies for the tournament.

Dambaugh fired an even 72 in round three behind another strong finish to her day. The Goose Creek, S.C., native posted a front-nine 37 (+1) before earning pars on five of her first six first holes after the turn. Dambaugh closed her weekend on a high note with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 before finishing her round with a par on No. 18.

Olarra shot an up-and-down round on the way to her third-straight 71 (-1). An eagle on the par-5 fourth pushed the junior to 2-under on her day, and she totaled a 34 (-2) on her front nine following a birdie on No. 7 and a bogey on No. 8. Olarra added three more birdies after the turn, registering ones on Nos. 10, 14 and 15.

Veysseyre collected four birdies in the final round, three of which came on her opening nine. She posted a front-nine 36 (E) and added her final birdie of the tournament on the par-4 14th to record a 1-over 73. Veysseyre’s performance this weekend earned the sophomore her first collegiate top-10 finish.

Senior Jia Xin Yang placed in a tie for 33rd at 6-over 222 after shooting a 74 (+2) Sunday. She notched a pair of birdies on the day, recording ones on the par-5 fourth and par-4 14th. Anita Uwadia (225, +8), who competed as an individual this weekend, finished the three-day event in 42nd place following her 3-over 75 in round three.

Quoting Coach Kalen Anderson

Round Changer

Notable

• The Gamecocks have earned runner-up honors at the Florida State Match-Up in each of the last two years. Carolina has finished in the top five in all four of its appearances at the three-day event.
• Carolina’s 847 (-17) bested its old 54-hole record of 849 (-15). The previous record was set at the 2016 ANNIKA Intercollegiate, and three of the program’s top seven 54-hole scores have been recorded this season.
• Ana Pelaez’s 208 (-8) is tied for the sixth-best 54-hole mark by a Gamecock in school history. Pelaez owns two of the top five 54-hole scores by a Carolina freshman.
• Pelaez became the second Gamecock to earn individual runner-up honors this season. Senior Katelyn Dambaugh, who has placed in the top 10 in all five of Carolina’s events this season, finished second at the 2016 Cougar Classic.
• Carolina was the only school in the 12-team field to have four golfers finish inside the top 10.
• Two of Ainhoa Olarra’s four career top-10 finishes have come at the Florida State Match-Up. The junior tied for eighth at the tournament in 2016.

Up Next

Carolina resumes its spring slate in March when it hosts the sixth annual Darius Rucker Intercollegiate. The 54-hole event takes place March 3-5 at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head Island, S.C.