No. 5 Gamecocks Take Fifth at Bahamas in Spring Opener

NEW PROVIDENCE, Bahamas – No. 5 South Carolina finished fifth in a strong field at the Nexus Collegiate on Wednesday in the team’s spring opener. The Gamecocks shot 299 (+11) in the final round led by a 1-over 73 from senior Mathilde Claisse as she climbed 14 spots up the leaderboard to finish T-25^th.

Conditions were tough all week with high winds that changed direction daily.

All-American Hannah Darling continued her solid play with a T-12^th finish at 7-over for the tournament. She shot 75 (+3) in the final round with four birdies. Darling has finished in the top-20 in all five starts this season.

Freshman Mia Sandtorv Lussand also shot 75 (+3) with a trio of birdies and an eagle at the par-5 15^th hole on her scorecard. Sandtorv Lussand finished T-25^th alongside Claisse at 12-over for the tournament. All-American Louise Rydqvist shot 76 (+4) with a trio of birdies in the final round. She finished T-29^th at 13-over.

Senior Justine Fournand, who was playing as an individual this week, posted a 73 (+1) in the final round today to finish T-21^st at 11-over. She made five birdies on the day. Darling (11), Fournand (10) and Claisse (10) were three of just 10 players in the field to make double-digit birdies over the course of 54 holes.

South Carolina is off before heading to Hilton Head Island at the end of the month to host the “Greatest Show in Women’s College Golf”, the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate (Feb. 27-March 1). It’s another loaded field this season and the tournament will again be broadcast every day by the Golf Channel from 2:30-5:30 p.m. (ET). Last year’s event, the 10^th anniversary, made history as the first and only women’s regular season college tournament to be aired live on the Golf Channel.

2023 Nexus Collegiate Gamecock Leaderboard

T12. Hannah Darling – 223 (+7)

T21. *Justine Fournand – 227 (+11)

T25. Mathilde Claisse – 228 (+12)

T25. Mia Sandtorv Lussand – 228 (+12)

T29. Louise Rydqvist – 229 (+13)

T38. Katherine Muzi – 233 (+17)

* playing as an individual this week

2023 Nexus Collegiate Leaderboard

1. No. 2 Wake Forest – 875 (+11)

2. No. 9 LSU – 882 (+18)

3. No. 13 Arizona State – 885 (+21)

4. No. 16 Auburn – 890 (+26)

5. No. 4 South Carolina – 901 (+37)

6. No. 20 Oklahoma State – 905 (+41)

T7. Minnesota – 919 (+55)

T7. No. 11 Ole Miss – 919 (+55)

9. No. 19 Duke – 931 (+67)

10. No. 33 TCU – 945 (+81)

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