USC, Clemson golf teams look to new college season with good reasons for optimism

USC women’s golf coach Kalen Anderson calls herself “incredibly excited” in previewing the 2024-25 season for her team, and the reasons for her outlook are no mystery.

Just look at the roster and their past accomplishments. All six contributing players return from the 2023-24 squad that won four tournaments and finished No. 7 in the national poll.

And Anderson isn’t alone among the Carolina and Clemson golf coaches looking forward to the season with optimism.

Clemson’s women, coming off a tie for fifth in the 2024 national championship, look to continue their rise under coach Kelley Hester. On the men’s side, USC begins the year with the optimism a new coach brings to the program, and Clemson wants to build on the momentum created by a victory in an NCAA Regional in May.

Senior All-Americans Hannah Darling and Louise Rydqvist headline the Carolina women’s team, and both enjoyed strong summer performances. Rydqvist, No. 13 in the world amateur rankings, won the European Ladies’ Amateur, reached the semifinals in the (British) Women’s Amateur and played on the Arnold Palmer Cup team. Darling, No. 30 in the world, made the Curtis Cup team for the third time, played in the Arnold Palmer Cup and advanced to the round of 32 in the (British) Women’s Amateur.

Anderson annually puts together one of the nation’s toughest schedulesm and this one begins again in the Annika Intercollegiate (Sept. 9-11) in Minnesota. Clemson also will be among the participants in the field featuring some of the country’s top teams.

The Tigers, who warmed up for the season with a third-place finish in the Tiger Classic on their home course, return a wealth of experience from a team that fashioned the school’s best season. Even losing a top player, who turned professional in January, did not slow Clemson en route to a fifth-place finish in the national tournament’s stroke play before losing to Southern California in match play.

Senior Melena Barrientos and juniors Isabella Rawl, Sydney Roberts and Chloe Holder all have been instrumental in Clemson’s climb onto the national scene.

On the men’s side, Rob Bradley takes over the Carolina program from Bill McDonald and inherits a pair of stalwarts, senior Nathan Franks and junior Frankie Harris. Zach Adams, a starter a year ago who struggled with consistency, comes brimming with confidence after winning the South Carolina Amateur.

The Gamecocks will be playing in seven of their nine regular-season tournaments for the first time, beginning Sept. 6 in the Knoxville Collegiate. Next comes The Tindall in Fall City, Washington.

Clemson’s men, beginning their third season under Jordan Byrd, open the campaign Sept. 9 in the Inverness Invitational in Toledo, Ohio and follow with a trip to San Antonio, Texas for the Valero Texas Intercollegiate.

The Tigers will be looking to build on momentum from a late-season surge that salvaged the year. After a series of lackluster finishes, Clemson became the first double-digit seed to win an NCAA Regional.

Senior Andrew Swanson will headline the Tigers’ lineup that is rich in starting experience. Junior Thomas Higgins is a two-year regular and senior Kian Rose has started every season.

The women’s regional tournaments will be played May 5-7 and the nationals May 16-21. The men’s regionals are set for May 12-14 and the nationals May 23-28. Both national championships again will be held in Carlsbad, California.

Chip shots. Former USC All-American Sarah Schmelzel was named a captain’s pick for the U.S. Team for the upcoming Solheim Cup, team matches that feature 12 LPGA players against 12 from the Ladies European Tour. Schmelzel is No. 24 on the season-long points list and No. 61 in the world rankings. U.S. captain Stacy Lewis picked Schmelzel, Jennifer Kupcho and Lexi Thompson to round her squad for the matches set for Sept. 10-15 in Gainesville, Virginia. ... Defending champion Todd White (Spartanburg) reached the quarterfinals before falling in the U.S. Senior Amateur. Tim Dunleavy (Spartanburg) advanced to the round of 16, Rick Cloninger (Rock Hill) to the round of 32 and both Maxwell Fain (Boiling Springs) and Yancey Johnson (Simpsonville) to the round of 64.