Women's Golf . March 12, 2021

No. 3 Gamecocks Set for Valspar Augusta Invitational

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 3 University of South Carolina women’s golf team gets back to the tournament grind with a trip to Augusta, Ga. to compete at the Valspar Augusta Invitational at the Forest Hills Golf Club on March 13-14. Rounds one and two will be played Saturday, and round three is set for Sunday.

The Field

The Valspar Augusta Invitational pits the Gamecocks against ranked opponents No. 1 Wake Forest, No. 2 Duke, No. 5 Florida State, No. 7 Virginia, No. 17 Kent State, and No. 24 Louisville in addition to host school Augusta, Coastal Carolina, Furman, Kennesaw State, Memphis, Notre Dame, Purdue, USF and Virginia Tech.

The Course

The course at Forest Hills Golf Club plays as a par 72 at 6,249 yards. The 18-hole course was originally designed by world renowned course architect Donald Ross, but it was renovated by the Arnold Palmer Company in 2004. Forest Hills is repeatedly named “Best Public Course” by Augusta Magazine and offers traditional Southern topography with level, rolling fairways surrounded by magnificent trees.

Last Time Out for Carolina

South Carolina stayed in contention until the bitter end of its home tournament, the Gamecock Intercollegiate, eventually taking third behind Duke and Wake Forest. Carolina battled through chilly conditions, and a schedule shake up due to inclement weather, to hold a lead at the end of the second round before falling short of another tournament title in the final round.

Gamecock Intercollegiate Lineup

Lois Kaye Go (Sr.)

Named SEC Golfer of the Week on March 10
Notched her best finish as a Gamecock by taking second at the Gamecock Intercollegiate with a 4-under 212 after carding back-to-back 3-under 69 scores in the first two rounds
Holds lowest career scoring average in program history (72.60)
Helped the Gamecocks secure the win at the Moon Golf Invitational with a 2-under 70 in the first round and an even par 72 in the final round
Earned All-America honors each of the last three seasons
Tied for seventh in program history with seven top-5 finishes

Ana Pelaez (Sr.)

Named to the latest ANNIKA Award Watch List on March 12
Made her season debut at the Moon Golf Invitational, tying for third with an 8-under 208, tying her career low for a 54-hole tournament
Rallied from a sluggish opening round at the Gamecock Intercollegiate to card a 1-under 71 in the second round and a 2-under 70 in the final round on her way to a sixth place finish
Notched three top-3 finishes in European competition before returning to Columbia for the final half of her senior season
Currently ranked No. 20 in the women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking
Earned All-America honors in 2020 and 2017
Set to compete at the 2021 Augusta National Women’s Amateur

Pimnipa Panthong (Sr.)

Recovered from a stumble in the opening round at the Moon Golf Invitational to go 1-under in the second round and even par in the final round, helping to earn the team win
Finished third at the Blessings Collegiate Invitational to open the season
Currently ranked No. 57 in the women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking
Three-time All-American and Two-time MAC Player of the Year at Kent State
Set to compete at the 2021 Augusta National Women’s Amateur

Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (So.)

Named to the latest ANNIKA Award Watch List on March 12
Selected as SEC Golfer of the Week on Feb. 17
Won her third individual championship at the Moon Golf Invitational – her second medalist honor of the season
Currently ranked No. 3 in the women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking
Has eight top-10 finishes so far as a Gamecock
Earned WGCA and Golfweek First Team All-America honors as a freshman
Set to compete at the 2021 Augusta National Women’s Amateur

Paula Kirner (Fr.)

Named SEC Freshman of the Week on March 10
Had her best tournament so far, shooting and opening round 70 and finishing with an even par 72 to earn a 20th place finish at the Gamecock Intercollegiate
Played in all three tournaments for the Gamecocks in the fall
Notched her then best round as a Gamecock with her 1-under 71 in the opening round at The Ally back in October
Set to compete at the 2021 Augusta National Women’s Amateur

Mathilde Claisse (So.) – Individual

Bounced back after a rough opening round at the Moon Golf Invitational to shoot a 2-under 70 in the second round and a 1-under 71 in the final round to help clinch the victory
Won both of her match play matchups at the East Lake Cup
Played in every tournament for the Gamecocks as a freshman in 2019-20
Notched the fifth-lowest freshman scoring average in program history (73.88)

Kaiyuree Moodley (Fr.) – Individual