This All-American’s clutch putt lifted South Carolina to SEC women’s golf title
A big putt from an All-American helped South Carolina clinch a second SEC championship for the women’s golf program.
As senior Louise Rydqvist walked down the fairway of the 17th hole Friday at Pelican Golf Club, she realized the Gamecocks needed just one more point in match play to clinch the title.
“I asked [Assistant coach Yoshio Yamamoto] down the 17th fairway, if we had two points on the board, because I knew that we needed three to get the win, and he said yes,” Rydqvist said. “...I knew that we had a good chance. And I knew that if I make it a good run here on 17 and maybe even 18, we’re gonna win this thing.”
The Värnamo, Sweden native did, in fact, make a good run on the 17th hole. When she reached the green the only thing standing between South Carolina and an SEC title was a long birdie putt.
Rydqvist drilled the putt, clinching the Gamecocks’ first SEC championship since 2002.
“I don’t know if it’s quite 60. It keeps getting longer,” South Carolina head coach Kalen Anderson joked. “I think it was probably about 30 feet, to be honest with you. But listen, it was really impressive. That’s what she does.”
Rydqvist described the putt as one of the top moments, and one of the most pressure-packed moments, of her career.
“At that putt, I was just very in the moment,” Rydqvist said. “…And luckily, it’s one of those putts that drops and I put my hand in the air before it went in. Then I kind of screamed all over the place with my teammates when it went in. So it was just such an incredible moment that I’ll cherish forever.”
Anderson said Rydqvist, a two-time All-American who is currently ranked the No. 7 in the world, “earned” the experience of making the title-clinching putt.
“Louise is somebody that handles pressure very well,” Anderson said. “... She thrives in that, she does a great job. That’s why we put her in that anchor spot in the last because she can handle that situation — and she did.”
Rydqvist’s fellow senior All-American Hannah Darling (No. 18 in the world) also played a crucial role in clinching the SEC championship win. Anderson praised the experience and poise the two brought with them in the tournament.
“I couldn’t be happier that if my SEC championship is coming down to relying on two seniors that are two All-Americans, top 20 in the world,” Anderson said. “That can be the best situation I could be in.”
The Gamecocks flew back to Columbia following their win and were honored on the field during Friday’s spring football game.
The selection show for the NCAA women’s golf tournament is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday on the Golf Channel. Regional play starts May 5 and the NCAA Championships begin May 16 at Omni La Costa in Carlsbad, California
NBC currently projects No. 4 ranked South Carolina to be a No. 1 seed playing at Birdwood Golf Club in Charlottesville, Virginia.
This story was originally published April 21, 2025 at 12:18 PM.
