No. 14 Gamecocks Set To Host Darius Rucker Intercollegiate
Photo: GamecocksOnline.com
COLUMBIA, S.C. (USC SID) – No. 14 South Carolina women’s golf resumes its spring slate this weekend when it hosts the sixth annual Darius Rucker Intercollegiate in Hilton Head Island, S.C. The 54-hole event, which takes place March 3-5, will be contested at Long Cove Club and feature a 17-team field.
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
Dates: Fri., March 3 – Sun., March 5
Location: Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Course: Long Cove Club
Format: 54-hole stroke play
The Lineup: Seniors Katelyn Dambaugh and Jia Xin Yang, junior Ainhoa Olarra, sophomore Marion Veysseyre and freshman Ana Pelaez; Senior Marianna Monaco, sophomore Isidora Nilsson and freshman Anita Uwadia will compete as individuals.
The Field: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona State, Auburn, Baylor, Duke, Furman, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Wake Forest
Live Scoring: GolfStat.com
Tournament Website: https://adobe.ly/2hdqa2S
FROM THE COACH
“We’re excited to get back and host this event. It’s a first-class event with Darius Rucker and Long Cove Club involved. There a lot of people that go into it, and the membership does a phenomenal job. The course is in perfect shape. It’s all about patience this week. The golf course is difficult and challenging, and we just need to have a lot of patience.” – South Carolina women’s golf coach Kalen Anderson
HISTORY AT THE DARIUS RUCKER INTERCOLLEGIATE
The Gamecocks have earned top-five finishes at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate in two of the last three years. Carolina placed fifth at the event in 2014 and 2015 before finishing in a tie for eighth at Long Cove Club last year. Senior Katelyn Dambaugh has finished in the top 20 at the tournament in each of her first three appearances, and the Goose Creek, S.C., native tied for ninth last season following her final-round 71 (-1). This weekend marks the debut at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate for Ana Pelaez and Anita Uwadia.
BREAKING DOWN THE FIELD
The Darius Rucker Intercollegiate again features a strong field, as 10 top-25 teams will be competing at Long Cove Club. No. 5 Alabama, No. 6 Furman, No. 8 Georgia and No. 10 Arizona State mark the four top-10 schools in action, while No. 11 Wake Forest, No. 12 Arkansas and No. 14 South Carolina head into the event listed in the top 15. Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State, Tennessee and Vanderbilt round out the list of SEC schools participating in the event. Alabama earned its third victory at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate last season, while No. 18 Duke captured the title in 2014 and 2015.
LAST TIME OUT
South Carolina opened the spring in historic fashion, carding the lowest 54-hole mark (847, -17) in program history en route to runner-up honors at the Florida State Match-Up. Ana Pelaez paced the Gamecocks, as the Malaga, Spain, native turned in the best three-round total (208, -8) ever by a Carolina freshman to finish tied for second. Senior Katelyn Dambaugh (7th), junior Ainhoa Olarra (8th) and sophomore Marion Veysseyre (T-10th) also saw strong weekends for the Gamecocks, who finished as the runner-up at the event for the second-straight year. Carolina was the only school in the 12-team field to have four golfers finish in the top 10 at the Don Veller Seminole Course.
CHIP SHOTS
>> South Carolina enters its 10th season under head coach Kalen Anderson, who has led the program to nine tournament wins and seven NCAA Championship appearances.
>> Carolina is one of five schools to reach the NCAA Championship in each of the last seven years, and last spring marked its 16th overall appearance.
>> The Gamecocks have boasted multiple All-Americans in each of the last three years. Senior Katelyn Dambaugh enters the spring as a three-time All-American.
>> Carolina has earned top-five finishes in each of its last three tournaments, including a victory at the 2016 Landfall Tradition.
>> The Gamecocks rank first in Division I with a 2.98 par-3 scoring average. Carolina also sits in the top three (3rd) in par-5 scoring with an average mark of 4.77.
>> Gamecock senior Katelyn Dambaugh, the No. 7th ranked amateur in the world, boasts the fourth-best scoring average (69.63) among Division I golfers this season.
>> Ana Pelaez was named the SEC Freshman of the Week on Feb. 22 following her runner-up finish at the FSU Match-Up. The Carolina newcomer’s 71.67 stroke average this year ranks second on the team and seventh among freshmen in Division I.
UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS
South Carolina continues its spring season later this month at the Bryan National Collegiate. The three-day event takes place March 31 to Apr. 2at the Bryan Park Golf Course in Greensboro, N.C.
