Dambaugh Paces Gamecocks on Day One of Cougar Classic

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Senior Katelyn Dambaugh carded a 69 (-3) to lead the South Carolina women’s golf team on day one of the Cougar Classic Sunday at Yeamans Hall Club. The Gamecocks sit 10 strokes off the lead in ninth place after opening the 54-hole event with a 288 (E).

Dambaugh (T6) collected five birdies in her round, including three over her final five holes. She posted a front-nine 34 (-2) following birdies on Nos. 4 and 8, and the Goose Creek, S.C., native tallied pars on each of her next two holes after the turn. Dambaugh responded from a bogey on No. 12 with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 14 and 15 before recording her final birdie on the par-5 18^th. The senior sits three strokes behind Wake Forest’s Sierra Sims (66, -6) for the individual lead.

Junior Ainhoa Olarra (T30) marked the other Gamecock to turn in a round of par or better, as she shot a 72 (E) after finishing with birdies on two of her last three holes. Her first birdie came on the par-4 fifth, and she played her final nine holes at even following bogeys on Nos. 12 and 17 and birdies on Nos. 16 and 18.

Marion Veysseyre opened the tournament with a 1-over 73 to end the day in a tie for 36th place, while fellow sophomore Isidora Nilsson is tied for 51st after posting a 2-over 74. Veysseyre responded from a pair of bogeys in her opening five holes, as she notched birdies on Nos. 6 and 9 before adding another after the turn on the par-4 10^th.

Nilsson, who made her season debut for the Gamecocks this weekend, posted an up-and-down round that included a team-high seven birdies and four bogeys. Freshman Anita Uwadia (T88) notched five birdies and finished round one in a tie for xxx place following a 77 (+5).

Furman sits atop the leaderboard at 10-under (278), while North Carolina (281, -7) and Wake Forest (282, -6)) round out the top three in the 21-team field. South Carolina was one of nine schools to open the Cougar Classic with a round of par or better.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS

T6. Katelyn Dambaugh 69 (-3)

T30. Ainhoa Olarra 72 (E)

T36. Marion Veysseyre 73 (+1)

T51. Isidora Nilsson 74 (+2)

T88. Anita Uwadia 77 (+5)

TEAM STANDINGS

1. Furman 278 (-10)
2. North Carolina 281 (-7)
3. Wake Forest 282 (-6)

T4. Auburn 284 (-4)

T4. UCF 284 (-4)

T6. NC State 285 (-3)

T6. Michigan 285 (-3)

8. Florida State 286 (-2)
9. South Carolina 288 (E)
10. Louisville 289 (+1)

T11. Penn State 291 (+3)

T11. Chattanooga 291 (+3)

13. Maryland 292 (+4)

T14. Arkansas 293 (+5)

T14. Clemson 293 (+5)

16. Mississippi State 296 (+8)
17. Charleston Southern 298 (+10)

T18. Wisconsin 301 (+13)

T18. Indiana 301 (+13)

T20. Coastal Carolina 302 (+14)

T20. College of Charleston 302 (+14)

QUOTING HEAD COACH KALEN ANDERSON

“They hung tough today. We didn’t have many putts fall but did a great job of managing an off day. They kept themselves in tournament contention.”

ROUND CHANGER

Senior Katelyn Dambaugh used a strong finish to post a 3-under 69 on Sunday. She followed up back-to-back birdies on Nos. 14 and 15 with another one on the par-5 18^th.

 NOTABLES

>> South Carolina’s 288 (E) on Sunday marked its third round of par or better this season. The Gamecocks finished par or better just two times last fall.

>> Senior Katelyn Dambaugh has shot under par in three of her first four rounds this season.

>> The Gamecocks sit five strokes ahead of Clemson (T14, +5) after one round of play. A point in the 2016-17 Palmetto Series will be awarded to the school that boasts the better finish at the three-day event.

>> South Carolina led the field with 23 birdies on Sunday. Sophomore Isidora Nilsson’s seven birdies are tied for first among the 108 golfers at the Cougar Classic.

UP NEXT

South Carolina is back in action at Yeamans Hall Club Monday morning for the second round of the Cougar Classic. The Gamecocks will play alongside Arkansas and Florida State,  starting at 10:20 a.m. ET.