USC women swing for consistency in spring

After her team struggled with consistency in fall competition, South Carolina women’s golf coach Kalen Anderson expects a more productive spring. Answers will start coming this week.

The Gamecocks begin the spring season on Friday in the Florida State Match-Up in Tallahassee, Fla. Anderson said she has an optimistic outlook because of offseason progress and the addition to two players with big potential.

“We’re going in with a different mindset,” she said, “and I’m really pleased with our offseason program.”

With junior Katelyn Dambaugh, No. 1 in career scoring, and senior Sarah Schmelzel, No. 5 on the career list, providing a solid foundation at the top, USC will look for stronger contributions from junior Jia Xin Yang and sophomore Ainhoa Olarra. More help could come in the form of a pair of newcomers – freshman Marion Veysseyre and junior transfer Marianna Monaco.

“I believe their offseason work will make (Olarra and Yang) more productive and help us move to a new level in the spring,” said Anderson, who has guided the Gamecocks to six consecutive NCAA Championship appearances and three East Regional titles since 2010. “Marion and Marianna are still adjusting, but they are incredibly talented. I’m excited at the prospect of what they can contribute.”

Veysseyre, a native of France, enrolled in January and brings impressive credentials. She won the 2013 French Amateur, was No. 1 in the 2014 European Girls Under-18 rankings, and helped the French National team win the 2015 European Ladies Team title. Monaco transferred from Newberry after earning South Atlantic Conference player of the year honors. She had played on both the boys’ and girls’ team at Yonkers (N.Y.) High.

“We’re working with Marion’s swing a bit, but she has the best wedge and putting game I’ve seen in a junior golfer in a while,” Anderson said. “Marianna is not as experienced, but she has a ton of raw talent and high goals, and I haven’t seen a female hit the golf ball as far as she can. In both cases, they’re going to need to adjust to the higher level of competition.”

No matter how the lineup shakes out after Dambaugh and Schmelzel, the Gamecocks must find consistency to return to the national tournament. USC lost All-American Justine Dreher and veteran Mary Fran Hillow from the 2015 powerhouse that finished No. 6 in the national polls. The Gamecocks didn’t finish better than ninth in four fall tournaments.

“They understand (the need for consistent quality play); they get it,” Anderson said. “Now it’s a matter of going out and doing the job. I see a lot of reasons to be positive. We’re a much better team now than we were in the fall.

“Having Katelyn and Sarah gives us strength at the top, and we know we can count on them. We just need to give them some support.”

Dambaugh and Schmelzel led the team in scoring in all four fall events. Individually, Dambaugh posted a tie for second and a third, and Schmelzel had a seventh-place finish. During December, Dambaugh placed fourth in the Dixie Amateur.

Another positive: Anderson’s teams have a history of strong finishes heading toward the SEC and national tournaments, and she said she can see her team headed in that direction again.

Chip shots

Todd White, an instructor at Spartanburg High and winner of multiple state player of the year honors, finished eighth in the South American Amateur in Peru. … Save the date: the annual Columbia Golf Ball, which benefits junior golf, will be held April 7 at the State Fairgrounds. Call the SCGA office (803-732-9311) for sponsorship and ticket information. … Registration is open for the CGA’s 2016 Rules of Golf Seminars. The South Carolina schedule includes Columbia CC (March 9), Moss Creek GC (Hilton Head, March 15), CC of Charleston (March 16), Cypress Landing GC (Chocowinty, March 16), Dunes Golf and Beach Club (Myrtle Beach, March 17), Cliffs of Glassy (Landrum, March 22), CC of South Carolina (Florence, March 23) and CC of Spartanburg (March 24). All begin at 5:30 p.m. Register online at www.carolinasgolf.org/2016-seminars.

This story was originally published February 6, 2016 at 4:37 PM with the headline "USC women swing for consistency in spring."