No. 6 Gamecocks Win Therese Hession Regional Team Challenge

PALOS VERDES ESTATES, Calif. – No. 6 South Carolina was crowned champions of the Therese Hession Regional Team Challenge on Monday. Medal matches were cancelled due to weather at Palos Verdes Golf Club as California is getting rocked by heavy rain and wind.

The Gamecocks earned the victory by way of tiebreaker over No. 8 Texas. The two teams were tied on the first tiebreak criteria with post points won over three matches with 10. Carolina edged the Longhorns, 35-34, on the next tiebreak criteria which was total holes won.

Junior All-Americans Hannah Darling and Louise Rydqvist went 3-0 in matches in Gamecocks. Freshman Vairana Heck went 2-1. Sophomore Mia Sandtorv Lussand and senior Sophia Burnett each picked up wins in Carolina’s 4-1 victory over top-ranked Wake Forest in the semifinals.

Freshman Maylis Lamoure played as an individual and took third after going 2-1 in her matches against the other individual competitors.

The winning team earned a sponsor exemption for one player into the LPGA’s Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship March 21-24 at Palos Verdes Golf Club. Darling was selected to represent the Gamecocks and make her professional debut.

The win marks the 25^th of head coach Kalen Anderson’s career at South Carolina. It’s the team’s second win of the season as Carolina rolled to victory at the season-opening ANNIKA Intercollegiate back in September.

2024 Therese Hession Regional Team Challenge Results

Round 1 vs. Arizona

Hannah Darling (SC) def. Gile Bite Starkute (ARIZ), 2-up

Louise Rydqvist (SC) def. Julia Misemer (ARIZ), 4&3

Vairana Heck (SC) def. Lilas Pinthier (ARIZ), 4&3

Nena Wongthanavimok (ARIZ) def. Mia Sandtorv Lussand (SC), 1-up

Charlotte Back (ARIZ) def. Sophia Burnett (SC), 3&1

No. 6 South Carolina def. Arizona, 3-2

Quarterfinal vs. No. 7 Oregon

Hannah Darling (SC) def. K. Romero (OR), 5&4

Louise Rydqvist (SC) def. A. Park (OR), 6&4

Vairana Heck (SC) def. M. Nagano (OR), 1-up

1. Chen (OR) def. Mia Sandtorv Lussand (SC), 5&4
2. Huang (OR) def. Sophia Burnett (SC), 4&3

No. 6 South Carolina def. No. 7 Oregon, 3-2

Semifinal vs. No. 1 Wake Forest

Hannah Darling (SC) def. Carolina Lopez-Chacarra (WF), 2&1

Louise Rydqvist (SC) def. Rachel Kuehn (WF), 2&1

Maci Pate (WF) def. Vairana Heck (SC), 2&1

Mia Sandtorv Lussand (SC) def. Brooke Rivers (WF), 5&4

Sophia Burnett (SC) def. Mimi Rhodes (WF), 4&2

No. 6 South Carolina def. No. 1 Wake Forest, 4-1

Championship vs. No. 8 Texas

Match cancelled due to heavy rain and wind overnight.

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