HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – It was another sensational performance for senior Mathilde Claisse on Wednesday as she picked up her first collegiate win at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate, the teams host tournament in conjunction with the great people of Long Cove Club. The four-year starter from Paris, France shot a final round 70 (-1) to win by a shot over LSU’s Edit Hertzman.
Claisse trailed by a shot after a bogey at the par-4 12th hole on the back nine. She bounced back with a long, downhill birdie putt at the par-5 15th hole to tie Hertzman, who was a hole in front of Claisse. Hertzman made bogey at the difficult par-3 17th. Claisse hit her tee shot in the bunker but knocked it close to save par. She missed the fairway right on 18 but hit a beautiful approach to a back right pin. Claisse nearly sent the large gallery into a frenzy with her birdie try that just missed. She tapped in for par and the victory.
It was a tough final round for the Gamecocks as a team, shooting 11-over (295) to finish at 10-over for the tournament (862), four shots behind No. 6 LSU. It’s Carolina’s second consecutive runner-up finish at the event, matching its best mark in the 11-year run of the prestigious event known as “The greatest show in women’s collegiate golf.”
Sophomore All-American Louise Rydqvist shot 74 (+3) and fellow sophomore All-American Hannah Darling shot 75 (+4). Freshman Mia Sandtorv Lussand shot 76 (+5) to round out the counting scores for the team. Senior Justine Fournand shot 77 (+6). Graduate transfer Katherine Muzi, who played as an individual this week, fired a 1-over 72 to finish T-11th at 2-over for the tournament. It’s her first career top-20 in Garnet and Black. Muzi was bogey free on the back nine with consecutive birdies at holes 14 and 15.
No teams broke par in the third round on Wednesday at the Pete Dye designed course. No. 2 Wake Forest posted the round of the day with an even par 284. No. 3 Oregon, who made its tournament debut, also played well with a 1-over 285.
Claisse (208, -5), Hertzman (209, -4) and Baylor’s Rosie Belsham (212, -1) were the only players in the 90-women field to shoot under par over 54 holes. Four other players shot even par at 213. Claisse was one of seven players with double digit red numbers on her scorecard this week finishing with 11. Hertzman led the field with 13 birdies.
2023 Darius Rucker Intercollegiate Gamecock Leaderboard
1. Mathilde Claisse – 208 (-5)
T11. *Katherine Muzi –…
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