The Gamecocks are making the program’s 21st all-time appearance in the NCAA Championship this week (fourth-straight dating back to 2021). It marks the 12th appearance in the last 14 seasons under head coach Kalen Anderson, who was named one of 24 to the watch list for the Jackie Steinmann WGCA National Coach of the Year yesterday. It has been another banner year for her squad with four win this season, which ties for the second most single-season wins in program history. The team has finished in the top-five of all 11 tournaments this season playing one of the toughest schedules in the country again. Anderson was named SEC Coach of the Year for the third time in the last four seasons back on May 1.
The team is seeking to make match play again for the second consecutive season, which would be a first in program history. Carolina finished fourth in stroke play last season and also advanced to match play in 2016.
We’ve arrived in SoCal for our business trip. 💼🤙#Gamecocks🐔⛳️ // #NCAAGolf pic.twitter.com/3BKnZdtmfa
— Gamecock Women’s Golf (@GamecockWGolf) May 15, 2024
Junior All-Americans Louise Rydqvist and Hannah Darling will be making their third career NCAA Championship starts this week. Rydqvist is playing the best golf of her career and is fresh off back-to-back, runner-up medalist finishes at the SEC Championship (April 12-14) and NCAA Regionals (May 6-8). She has eight top-20 finishes in nine stroke play starts this season, including five top-fives and her first career win at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate back in September. Her scoring average of 70.85 is currently the second lowest single-season score average in program history behind only All-American Pauline Roussin-Bouchard.
Darling finished T-18th at last year’s NCAA Championship to lead the team. She has six top-20s this season with four top-10 finishes. The Midlothian, Scotland, native has been consistently in form throughout her time as a Gamecock with an impressive 22 top-20 finishes (17 top-10s) in 30 career stroke play starts. Her career scoring average of 72.14 is the lowest in program history.
Both players were named First Team All-SEC and were selected to compete for Team International in this summer’s Arnold Palmer Cup, the premier, Ryder Cup style team event in amateur golf.
Sophomore Mia Sandtorv Lussand will be making her second NCAA Championship start this week. She put together three solid rounds last season at the event, which was held at Grayhawk in…
..