No. 7 Gamecocks Go Wire-to-Wire to Win ANNIKA Intercollegiate
Morgan Yi/ANNIKA Foundation
Junior All-American Louise Rydqvist tied for medalist honors with a trio of other players
LAKE ELMO, Minn. – No. 7 South Carolina went wire-to-wire for its first win of the season at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate on Wednesday. The Gamecocks shot a final round 283 (-5) for a 54-hole total of 838 (-26), the third-lowest 54-hole score in program history.
Junior All-American Louise Rydqvist picked up her first collegiate victory, serving as co-champion with Duke’s Phoebe Brinker, Florida State’s Lottie Woad and Oregon’s Kiara Romero. The Jönköping, Sweden, native shot a career-best 54-hole score of 208 (-8) with scores of 66-72-70. In the final round today, she had three birdies and an eagle.
Rydqvist is the second Gamecock to win the ANNIKA Intercollegiate and the first since All-American Justine Dreher in 2014. New this year, Rydqvist earns a sponsor exemption into The ANNIKA, a premiere stop on the LPGA Tour. The annual tournament takes place outside of Tampa at Pelican Golf Club, which is set to host the SEC Championship for the first time in late April.
Carolina fended off No. 11 Oregon and No. 2 Wake Forest, the defending NCAA Champion, for the team crown. It marks the third time the Gamecocks have won the prestigious event (2014, 2021, 2023) since its inception in 2014. It was a loaded field this week as Carolina took down 10 top-25 teams (five ranked in the top-10) from the Mizuno WGCA Coaches poll.
“We have a young and exceptionally talented group this year,” said head coach Kalen Anderson. “A very fun way to start the season and see this team showcase their abilities early. I’m also so happy for Louise getting her first individual collegiate win.”
It was a big week for the Gamecocks’ freshmen duo from France as Maylis Lamoure and Vairana Heck each notched top-10 finishes in their collegiate debuts. Lamoure shot 72 (E) today as she finished T-5th at 7-under overall. Heck led Carolina today with a 4-under 68. She T-9th at 6-under for the tournament with a pair of scores in the 60s for the event.
Junior All-American Hannah Darling finished 17th at 3-under with a final round 73 (+1) today that featured a trio of birdies. It marks the 17th top-20 finish for her in 22 collegiate starts. Sophomore Mia Sandtorv Lussand finished T-50th at 10-over after a tough final round.
The victory this week at Royal Golf Club marks the 24th win under Anderson in her 17 seasons leading the program.
The Gamecocks will be back in action Sept. 22-24 at the Mason Rudolph Championship hosted by Vanderbilt at Legends Club in Franklin, Tenn.
2023 ANNIKA Intercollegiate Leaderboard
- No. 7 South Carolina – 838 (-26)
- No. 11 Oregon – 841 (-23)
- No. 2 Wake Forest – 842 (-22)
- No. 13 San Jose State – 855 (-9)
- No. 3 Texas A&M – 856 (-8)
- No. 8 Texas – 857 (-7)
- No. 10 Florida State – 859 (-5)
- No. 23 Virginia – 865 (+1)
- Duke – 867 (+3)
- No. 6 Mississippi State – 873 (+9)
- Minnesota – 884 (+20)
- No. 12 Baylor – 885 (+21)
2023 ANNIKA Intercollegiate Gamecock Leaderboard
T1. Louise Rydqvist – 208 (-8)
T5. Maylis Lamoure – 209 (-7)
T9. Vairana Heck – 210 (-6)
17. Hannah Darling – 213 (-3)
T50. Mia Sandtorv Lussand – 226 (+10)
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