USC women’s golf finishes strong, has bright future
After two years of record-setting achievements, South Carolina’s women’s golf team entered the 2015-16 season without graduated All-American Justine Dreher and facing what coach Kalen Anderson called “a transition year.”
The Gamecocks answered the challenge in the best possible way, steadily improving and earning a berth in the match-play portion of the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship.
Their season ended there, in a 3-2 lost to defending national champion Stanford in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, but the development left Anderson beaming with pride and excited about the future.
“To do what they did is really impressive,” Anderson said. “We had a solid week, and we took Stanford to the final hole in the final match. I am so proud of this group.”
Junior Katelyn Dambaugh forged an All-American year, and joined senior Sarah Schmelzel in providing leadership and strength at the top of the lineup. But the Gamecocks needed younger players to develop, and sophomore Ainhoa Olarra emerged. Then, freshmen Marion Veysseyre and Isidora Nilsson provided some late-season contributions.
The sum was “Some of my proudest moments as a coach,” said Anderson, who completed her ninth season at Carolina by guiding the Gamecocks into the national tournament for the eighth time. USC won its fourth regional under Anderson, and is one of five teams with seven straight journeys to the NCAAs.
After the fall season, outside observers figured the Gamecocks faced long odds to keep the NCAA streak alive this spring. But the team did what has become an Anderson trademark – always improving and peaking at tournament time.
“We just try to get better each day and in each tournament,” Anderson said, “and we did.”
In the nationals, Dambaugh (T11), Olarra (T16) and Schmelzel (T20) played solid golf in the four rounds to determine the eight match-play squads, and Veysseyre and Nilsson each contributed two rounds to the team score. USC finished a comfortable seventh and drew second-seeded Stanford in the quarterfinals.
Dambaugh and Olarra won their matches, and Schmelzel and Nilsson dropped theirs. That left Veysseyre in a duel with Stanford’s Mariah Stackhouse, hero of the 2015 championship team and a member of the 2014 U.S. Curtis Cup team. Veysseyre didn’t flinch, making birdie on the 16th hole to cut her deficit to one hole before Stackhouse hit her approach on the final hole to within two feet to earn the win.
“Marion took one of the best players in college golf to the 18th hole and didn’t back down,” Anderson said. “A freshman against an All-American and Marion played fierce.”
Dambaugh, ranked second nationally this season, and Olarra provide a solid base for next season, and Anderson likes how Veysseyre and Nilsson developed. The recruiting class includes Ana Pelaez, No. 21 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.
“We’re going forward with momentum,” Anderson said. “I’m really proud of how this team developed and competed for the national championship. Our goals are high.”
Chip shots
Clemson’s Stephen Behr Jr. added to his collection of honors, receiving the Elite 90 Award at the NCAA Golf Championship. The award recognizes the individual who has reached the NCAA championship level while achieving the highest academic standard among his peers. Behr graduated with a 3.93 grade average in financial management. … Matt Bova, pro at Daufuskie Island’s Haig Point Club, captured the South Carolina Open at Dataw Island Club. … The Golf for Student Athletes (GSA) Junior Golf Tour, which has staged tournaments in the Upstate, is expanding into the Midlands with events set at Beech Creek (June 18) and Oak Hills (July 9). For information or to register, go online to www.leaguelineup.com/gsagolf or call either Todd McAllister (864-616-4202) or Todd Carter (864-884-1761). … Carly Burkhart (Greenville), who will play at Furman this fall, won the WSCGA’s Green Valley Girls Classic. … In the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, defending champions Todd White (Spartanburg) and Nathan Smith (Pittsburgh) lost in the round of 16. The teams of Brent Roof (Columbia)-Paul Tucker (Waxhaw, N.C.) and Andrew Orischak (Hilton Head Island)-Doc Redman (Raleigh/Clemson) dropped decisions in the round of 32. … In the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball, Dawn Woodard (Greer) and Meghan Stasi (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) fell in the round of 16.