Go Takes Runner-Up in Cavalier Match Play

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.  –  South Carolina women’s golf Senior Lois Kaye Go made it to the championship round, while sophomore Mathilde Claisse wrapped up play at the Cavalier Match Play tournament at the Birdwood Golf Course on Wednesday. 

Before Go could play for the championship she had to rally from a two-hole deficit as play resumed Wednesday morning. Go evened things up on hole No. 16, eventually going to a sudden death playoff against Duke’s Phoebe Brinker. Both women battled until Go prevailed on hole No. 23 to advance to the championship. 

In the championship round Go faced Mimi Rhodes from Wake Forest, and struggled on the front nine, trailing by three as the women made the turn. Go chipped away at the lead, getting it down to one on hole No. 11, but eventually fell to Rhodes 3UP for the championship.

Claisse resumed her match with Claire Hodges from Virginia, with the match tied through 16 holes. In a hard fought battle Claisse fell by one to Hodges and moved on to her final consolation match against Virginia’s Sky Sloan. After trailing by three entering the back nine Claisse rallied to even things up and force a sudden death playoff, eventually falling after 22 holes. 

In her semifinal matchup in the winner’s bracket Go lined up against Phoebe Brinker from Duke while Claisse faced Claire Hodges from Virginia in the consolation bracket. Play was suspended at sunset with Go trailing Brinker 2UP through 14, and Claisse leading Hodges 2UP through 14. 

“Great tournament for Lois and Mathilde to gain more match play experience,” assistant coach Kevin Williams said after the tournament. “Proud of LK for making it to the championship match and proud for Tilly for fighting hard in all the challenging matches she had.”

All eyes now turn to next week’s SEC Championship set to begin on Wednesday April 14 in Birmingham, Ala.