Gamecocks in Fourth after Opening Round in Athens

ATHENS, Ga.  –  The No. 1 South Carolina women’s golf team finished strong in the opening round of the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic on Friday, moving into fourth place by the end of the day at the University of Georgia Golf Course.

Senior Pimnipa Panthong led the way for the Gamecocks with a 1-under 71 on the day. Panthong had an up and down front nine, with a pair of birdies and four bogeys, but got on track during the back nine and notched birdies on four of her final eight holes to finish under par. 

Fellow senior Ana Pelaez finished the day with an even-par 72. After finishing her front nine at 1-over Pelaez locked in on the back nine, shooting for par on eight holes and sinking a birdie on hole 15 to get her back to even for the day. 

Sophomore Pauline Roussin-Bouchard tallied an eagle on hole seven to finish her front nine at ever-par, and then battled back from a rough opening to her back nine to wrap the round with birdies on 17 and 18 and card a 2-over 74. 

Freshman Paula Kirner notched three birdies and finished the round at 4-over, while senior Lois Kaye Go carded an opening round 5-over 77. Though the scores were higher than normal for the Gamecocks, the opening round saw all but one team shoot over par, with LSU leading after the round with an even-par 288. 

“I’m very proud of how the team hung tough and fought today,” head coach Kalen Anderson said after the opening round. “We overcame a very slow and challenging start, and we kept ourselves in the tournament. Looking forward to an exciting weekend!” 

The Gamecocks tee off for the second round in Athens at 9:25 on Saturday morning.  
 

2021 Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic Leaderboard – Round One

1. LSU – 288 (E)
2. Arkansas – 290 (+2)
3. Southern California – 292 (+4)
4. South Carolina – 293 (+5)
5. Ole Miss – 294 (+6)
T6. Georgia – 295 (+7)
T6. Auburn – 295 (+7)
T6. Louisville – 295 (+7)
T9. Florida – 296 (+8)
T9. Alabama – 296 (+8)
11. Mississippi State – 298 (+10)
12. Vanderbilt – 299 (+11)
T13. Tennessee – 301 (+13)
T13. Missouri – 301 (+13)
T15. College of Charleston – 302 (+14)
T15. Kentucky – 302 (+14)
17. Georgia (B) – 307 (+19)
18. Texas A&M – 308 (+20)

Gamecock Leaderboard

T12. Pimnipa Panthong – 71 (-1)
T15. Ana Pelaez – 72 (E)
T26. Pauline Roussin-Bouchard – 74 (+2)
T43. Paula Kirner – 76 (+4)
T57. Lois Kaye Go – 77 (+5)