The ultra-talented USC women’s golf team has potential to be powerhouse in new season
The coronavirus pandemic short-circuited spring seasons for collegiate sports with the South Carolina women’s golf team, ranked seventh at the time of cancellation, poised to make a run in the NCAA Championship.
Disappointed then? Sure. But, in looking ahead, the possibilities are enormous.
Start with four All-Americans. Add two seasoned veterans from the heralded 2019 recruiting class. Complete the picture with three newcomers with glowing credentials.
The combination makes up USC’s 2020-21 team, a program that always figures prominently in the national picture. But this is something special, and coach Kalen Anderson does not hesitate with her analysis for this squad.
“This is my best team (in 14 highly successful seasons) at Carolina and one of the most talented lineups in the nation,” she said.
Indeed, three players have exemptions into this summer’s U.S. Amateur and invitations to the 2021 prestigious Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
The coronavirus outbreak creates some challenges, especially in travel arrangements for some of the international players. Paperwork must be completed and quarantines are in the CDC protocols.
“The situation is fluid with requirements changing all the time, but we’re staying patient and taking a positive attitude,” Anderson said. “It’s adversity we have to deal with, and I’m very optimistic everything will work out for us.”
But the pandemic that creates the travel problems also led the possibility of the powerhouse team. With the 2019-20 season cut short, seniors Lois Kaye Go and Ana Pelaez, both on All-American lists multiple times, will return for another year of eligibility.
Rising sophomore Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, first-team All-American in her freshman year and ranked No. 1 in the women’s world amateur golf rankings, will be on all the watch lists for all the post-season awards. Pimnipa Panthong, a graduate transfer from Kent State and a three-time All-American, adds additional firepower.
Roussin-Bouchard, Panthong (No. 27 in the world rankings) and incoming freshman Paula Kirner (No. 37) all have received exemptions into the U.S. Amateur and will be in the field for the 2021 Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
The Augusta tournament creates a “problem” all teams would like to have.
“I was all set to caddie for Pauline (before cancellation of he 2020 tournaments),” Anderson said. She paused and laughed. “Now, we have will have three playing in Augusta and we’ll have to work something out.”
Panthong finished 17th in the inaugural Augusta tournament in 2019 and advanced to the round of 16 in the 2019 U.S. Amateur.
“One good thing about tournaments canceled for the summer is they are getting to spend quality time with their families,” Anderson said. “They’re usually playing golf with their national teams all summer, but Pauline sent me a text that she had been surfing and (rising sophomore) Mathilde (Claisse) has been on vacation with her family.”
Anderson said the international players “are flexible and will deal with what comes. They’re resilient, and they’re eager to get back together.”
No wonder they’re anxious. The possibilities are exciting.
Chip shots. State players who have earned exemptions into the U.S. Men’s Amateur based on world ranking include Trent Phillips (Inman, No. 37), Jacob Bridgeman (Inman/Clemson, 135), Ryan Hall (USC, 144), Jamie Wilson (Mt. Pleasant/USC, 196) and Logan Sowell (Kershaw/College of Charleston, 225). ... Drew Harrill (Spartanburg) ran away from the field to win the 59th Grant Bennett Florence Junior Invitational at Florence CC. Harrill finished at 12-under-par 201, six shots clear of runner-up Max Green (Hilton Head Island). Age-group winners included Dallas Johnson (Mt. Pleasant, boys’ 13-14), Owen Atkinson (Columbia, boys’ 11-12) and Connor Wolfe (Blythewood, boys’ 10 and under). ... Clemson commitment Katherine Schuster (Kill Devil Hills, N.C.) rallied from seven strokes behind to win the CGA’s Twin State’s Junior Girls’ title at Dataw Island Club near Beaufort. Chloe Holder (Williamston) finished second. ... The team of Walter and Neal Todd (Laurens) birdied the first playoff hole to edge Mark and Levi Moody (Greenville) for the title in the SCGA’S Father-Son Championship at the Woodcreek Club in Elgin.