HOOVER, Ala. – No. 4 South Carolina moved into third at the SEC Championship after 36 holes of play on Thursday. The Gamecocks fought hard in rainy and windy conditions from start to finish in the round, shooting 302 (+4).
For the second consecutive day, no teams posted a red number and there were only two players in the field that shot under par. Freshman Mia Sandtorv Lussand led Carolina with an even par 72, which tied for the third best round of the day with LSU All-American Ingrid Lindblad and Florida’s Marina Escobar Domingo.
The Bergen, Norway, native’s day was highlighted by an eagle at the par-5 fifth hole that erased a bogey, bogey start. Sandtorv Lussand found the fairway off the tee and then ripped a 3-wood inside 15-feet. The wind picked up around the midway point of the round today as conditions got more difficult on the back nine. Sandtorv Lussand remained steady though with two red numbers as she turned in a 35 (-1) over the final nine holes. She ended in style with a four at the par-5 18th hole. Sandtorv Lussand is seeking her first career top-10 as she’s T-7th at 1-over for the tournament entering Friday’s final round of stroke play.
Senior Mathilde Claisse shot 76 (+4). She was bogey free with all pars on the front nine. The Paris, France, native had three-straight bogeys to start the back nine but righted the ship coming in. Sophomore All-Americans Hannah Darling and Lousie Rydqvist each shot 77 (+5). Senior Justine Fournand shot 78 (+6).
Carolina will again be paired with No. 3 LSU for the third consecutive round on Friday. The teams will be joined by No. 7 Auburn as well. Megan Schofill of Auburn has the individual lead at 5-under by three shots over LSU’s Latanna Stone thanks to a 3-under 69 today. Just six players in the field are at par or better entering the third round of stroke play.
For the fifth consecutive year, a cut to the top-eight will take place with match play to determine the team champion on Saturday and Sunday. The Gamecocks have made match play every year since the league turned to the new format. A trophy is still on the line Friday as an individual champion will be crowned tomorrow at Greystone’s Legacy Course.
Live scoring will be available again via Golfstat. Claisse will be the first player off for Carolina at 8 a.m. (ET) on hole one.
2023 SEC Championship Gamecock Leaderboard
T7. Mia Sandtorv Lussand – 145 (+1)
T17. Louise Rydqvist – 150 (+6)
T24. Justine Fournand – 151 (+7)
T24….
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