No. 4 Gamecocks Drop Heartbreaker In SEC Semifinals

HOOVER, Ala. – No. 4 South Carolina dropped a heartbreaker in the match play semifinals of the SEC Championship on Saturday evening. The two deciding matches went to a combined nine playoff holes as the sun went down at Greystone Golf & Country Club’s Legacy Course.

Freshman Mia Sandtorv Lussand won 1-up in 22 holes after making a short birdie putt at the par-5 18^th. She was down late and made birdie at the par-3 eighth hole, tying her match with one to play. Senior Mathilde Claisse fell on the fifth playoff hole in her match. Players on both sides went back-and-forth for long stretches with great shots and clutch putts being sunk all around.

Senior Justine Fournand put the first point up on the board with a 2&1 win in the leadoff match against the Aggies. After losing the first hole, Fournand won the second and did not trail again in her match. Sophomore All-American Louise Rydqvist played solid and nearly sunk a pair of birdie putts down the stretch to force extra holes but ultimately fell 2&1.

Today’s semifinal appearance is the Gamecocks fourth in five seasons of the new match play format at the SEC Championship. The team has made match play (top-eight) in all five seasons.

In the quarterfinals, South Carolina downed No. 7 Auburn in another top-10 battle earlier in the day. The Gamecocks trailed in three matches at the turn. Claisse was down three thru 10 holes then won four-straight holes to take a 1-up lead thru 14 holes. She then won holes 16 and 17 en route to a 3&1 victory that would seal a 3-2 win for Carolina.

Sophomore All-American Hannah Darling and Sandtorv Lussand were dominant in their quarterfinal bouts as each did not trail for a single hole in their matches. Darling won 5&4 with six birdies in 14 holes. Sandtorv Lussand made four birdies on the front nine with red numbers at eight and nine to go 2-up and take control of her match.

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No. 4 South Carolina vs. No. 7 Auburn – SEC Match Play Quarterfinals

Casey Weidenfeld (AUB) def. Justine Fournand (SC), 5&3

Katie Cranston (AUB) def. Louise Rydqvist (SC), 1-up

Mathidle Claisse (SC), def. Carys Worby (AUB), 3&1

Mia Sandtorv Lussand (SC) def. Anna Foster (AUB), 4&3

Hannah Darling (SC) def. Megan Schofill (AUB), 5&4

Final Score: Gamecocks – 3 Auburn – 2

No. 4 South Carolina vs. No. 10 Texas A&M – SEC Match Play Semifinals

Justine Fournand (SC) def. Zoe Slaughter (A&M), 2&1

Blanca Fernandez Garcia-Poggio (A&M) def. Mathilde Claisse (SC), 1-up in 23 holes

Jennie Park(A&M) def. Louise Rydqvist (SC), 2&1

Mia Sandtorv Lussand (SC) def. Adela Cernousek (A&M), 1-up in 22 holes

Hailee Cooper (A&M) def. Hannah Darling (SC), 4&3

Final Score: Aggies – 3 Gamecocks – 2

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