FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – South Carolina concluded round one of the Blessings Collegiate Invitational on Monday evening. The No. 5 ranked women’s team sits T-4th after an opening round 295 (+7). The men are ninth after shooting 302 (+14).
Freshman Vairana Heck and junior All-American Louise Rydqvist paced the Carolina women with even par 72s. Both players made birdies on 18. Heck made a lengthy putt and Rydqvist knocked in a short one after hitting it close with her approach. Heck led the team with four birdies the opening 18 holes at Blessings Golf Club.
Junior All-American Hannah Darling shot 75 (+3) and sophomore Mia Sandtorv Lussand shot 76 (+4) to round out the team’s counting scores. Freshman Maylis Lamoure shot 78 (+6) with a trio of birdies on her scorecard.
Transfers Frankie Harris and Laurens Schulze-Doering led the Gamecock men’s team with 1-over 73s that has them slotted just inside the top-15. Harris made five birdies, including three-straight on the back nine, to lead the team. Schulze-Doering made three birdies on the back nine and an eagle at the par-5 fifth hole.
Sophomores Zach Adams (76, +4) and Walker Jennings (80, +8) were the final counting scores for Carolina in the opening round.
Arkansas, the host school playing on its home course, leads both the women’s and men’s team races after 18 holes with the individual leaders as well on both sides. It’s a unique format this week as teams are playing together in groups of five with carts.
Golf Channel will again have coverage of the second round tomorrow from 4:30-7:30 p.m. (ET).
Blessings Collegiate Invitational Women’s Leaderboard
1. No. 3 Arkansas – 285 (-3)
2. No. 29 Mississippi State – 289 (+1)
3. No. 3 Arkansas (B) – 291 (+3)
T4. No. 5 South Carolina
T4. Washington
6. NC State
7. No. 9 Clemson
8. North Texas
9. No. 28 Kentucky
10. Minnesota
* – rankings via Golfweek 9/29/23
Blessings Collegiate Invitational Men’s Leaderboard
1. No. 11 Arkansas – 279 (-9)
2. No. 20 Mississippi State – 288 (E)
3. Kentucky – 293 (+5)
T4. No. 11 Arkansas (B) – 296 (+8)
T4. No. 3 Washington – 296 (+8)
6. Clemson – 297 (+9)
T7. Minnesota – 299 (+11)
T7. NC State – 299 (+11)
9. South Carolina – 302 (+14)
10. North Texas – 317 (+29)
* – rankings via Golfweek 9/29/23
Blessings Collegiate Invitational Gamecock Women’s Leaderboard
T7. Vairana Heck – 72 (E)
T7. Louise Rydqvist – 72 (E)
T22. Hannah Darling – 75 (+3)
T25. Mia Sandtorv Lussand – 76…
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