Women’s Golf Announces 2021 Signing Class

COLUMBIA, S.C. – University of South Carolina women’s golf Head Coach Kalen Anderson pulled more international talent into the Carolina golf family with a pair of European signees as part of her 2021 signing class, Anderson announced Thursday. 

“I would like to welcome Hannah Darling and Louise Rydqvist to the Gamecock women’s golf family,” Anderson said of her signees. “Our 2021 signing class is full of experience, talent, and athleticism. Both players are leaders on and off the golf course and fit ideally within our program culture.”

First up is Hannah Darling. Coming to us from Scotland, Darling holds the No. 50 spot in the women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking. Darling brings a plethora of international experience with her after competing for Europe in the Junior Solheim Cup and for the Great Britain & Ireland squad in the Junior Vagliano Trophy, both in 2019. In her native Scotland she claimed the 2019 Scottish Open Girls championship after winning the Scottish Girls Amateur Championship in both 2017 and 2018. Adding to her international experience, Darling took fifth at the 2019 European Ladies Championship, sixth at the 2019 ANNIKA Invitational Europe and sixth at the 2019 World Junior Girls Championship. 

“Hannah Darling is one of the most physically talented junior players that I’ve seen in my career,” Anderson said of the Scottish sensation. “Coupled with her upbeat and energetic personality, Hannah will bring a significant boost to our line-up. Hannah has a wealth of international competitive experience and holds numerous titles around the world. She has represented Europe in the Junior Solheim Cup, dominated golf in Scotland and the UK, and is currently is ranked 50th in the world (WAGR). I look forward to experiencing the next four years with Hannah, creating memories, assisting her in her lofty goals.”

Next we have Louise Rydqvist. Hailing from Sweden, Rydqvist similarly brings an overabundance of international experience to the table after representing Sweden in the 2019 Junior World Cup, the 2019 World Junior Girls Championship and appearances in both the 2018 and 2019 European Team Girls Championship. Sitting at the No. 235 WAGR spot, Rydqvist has had a busy 2020 picking up a win at the Swedish Golf Tour Johannesberg Open Championship and taking the runner-up spot in the Nordic Golf tour Allerum Open. Rydqvist made it to the semifinals of the 2020 Spanish International Ladies Amateur Golf Championship and took fifth place at the 2020 Faldo Series Major Champion Invitational. 

“The thing that has stood out most about Louise Rydqvist throughout the recruiting process is her exceptionally positive, ‘no quit’ attitude—it’s an intangible quality that I find invaluable,” Anderson gushed about Rydqvist. “Louise is strong mentally and physically, dedicated in all aspects, and has a multitude of international tournament experience as a member of the Swedish National Golf team. Already boasting many achievements, Louise possesses all the ‘tools’ and has an endless ceiling for development. I look forward to the opportunity to helping Louise progress and succeed.”

Though these women won’t be in the Garnet and Black until next fall, the current Gamecocks close out this fall with the No. 1 spot in the Golfweek rankings thanks to winning The Ally, taking the runner-up spot at the East Lake Cup and finishing third at the Blessings Collegiate Invitational. An announcement about Carolina’s spring schedule will be made in the near future.