Women's Golf . September 11, 2024

No. 4 Gamecocks Blitz Field to Win ANNIKA Intercollegiate Again

South Carolina Athletics

Senior All-American Hannah Darling picked up her second collegiate win with a career-best score of 202 (-14)

Final Leaderboard (Golfstat) Final Results (PDF)

LAKE ELMO, Minn. – No. 4 South Carolina went wire-to-wire en route to a 27-shot victory at the season-opening ANNIKA Intercollegiate on Wednesday. Senior All-American Hannah Darling picked up her second collegiate win thanks to a new career-best score of 202 (-14), finishing one shot in front of teammate and fellow senior All-American Louise Rydqvist.

The Gamecocks blitzed the field shooting under par every round with scores of 276-281-276. The team’s 18-hole scores of 276 on day one and day three are T-9^th lowest in school history. The team’s 54-hole total of 833 (-31) is the second lowest tournament score in program history.

“Our team’s performance made a strong statement this week,” said head coach Kalen Anderson. “We stayed patient, handled adversity very well and kept our foot on the gas pedal. Every player in our line-up is moving in a positive direction from an individual standpoint both mentally and physically. Overall – just a great start to our season. Looking forward to lots more golf and growth ahead for this team.”

Darling went birdie, birdie today to finish and shoot 68 (-4), putting her one shot in front of her All-American teammate, Rydqvist, who was runner-up medalist. Darling’s 54-hole total of 202 is a new career-low mark and is T-3^rd lowest 54-hole tournament score in program history with All-American Pauline Roussin Bouchard, who shot 202 at The Ally in 2020.

Rydqvist matched her career best score of 203, which she shot en route to runner-up medalist honors at the 2024 SEC Championship in April. She went low today leading the team with a 6-under 66 that featured five birdies and an eagle at the par-4 third hole.

An LPGA sponsor exemption into The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican Golf Club in November was awarded to the victorious Gamecocks and the team unanimously selected Rydqvist to represent the Garnet and Black at this year’s event. She played in it last year and made the cut in her LPGA debut as an amateur. Pelican will host the SEC Championship again in April.

“It was certainly fun to watch Louise and HD battle it out for the individual title, as both played elite level golf in clutch situations,” said Anderson. “They were each enjoying the moments, but most excited about our team victory. I’m so proud of HD, and incredibly happy for her individual victory. I look forward to Louise representing our program at the Annika LPGA in November.”

Sophomore Maylis Lamoure had a nice final round with a 1-under 71. She finished T-6^th at 4-under overall, her second straight top-10 at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate where she made her Gamecock debut last fall. Junior Mia Sandtorv Lussand shot 219 (+3) to sneak inside the top-25, also finishing with a 1-under 71 today that featured three birdies and an eagle. Sophomore Vairana Heck shot 224 (+8) and finished T-39^th. She shot 72 (E) in round two with a hot finish that featured two birdies and an eagle over her final four holes.

Carolina swept the team and individual titles at the event last season as well. Rydqvist was co-champion in 2023. The team victory Wednesday marks the fourth all-time for the Gamecocks at the prestigious fall event, hosted by World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sörenstam and her foundation.

Today’s victory is the 28^th all-time by head coach Kalen Anderson, and it also marks the team’s 14^th win in the past five seasons. The Gamecocks will be back in action again Sept. 20-22 at the Mason Rudolph Championship in Franklin, Tenn. hosted by Vanderbilt.

2024 ANNIKA Intercollegiate Leaderboard

1. No. 4 South Carolina – 833 (-31)

2. No. 10 Oregon – 860 (-4)

3. No. 7 Wake Forest – 861 (-3)

4. No. 12 Arizona State – 862 (-2)

5. No. 15 Duke – 866 (+2)

6. No. 3 UCLA – 871 (+7)

7. Cal – 872 (+8)

8. Iowa State – 874 (+10)

T9. Minnesota – 877 (+13)

T9. No. 18 Clemson – 877 (+13)

11. UCF – 883 (+19)