BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Head coach Kalen Anderson has been named 2024 SEC Coach of the Year as the league announced its women’s golf awards on Wednesday afternoon. It’s the fourth time (2015, 2021, 2022, 2024) Anderson has received the prestigious honor from one of collegiate golf’s best and deepest conferences.
It was another outstanding season for the Gamecocks, as the team won four times against one of the toughest schedules in the country. Carolina is currently ranked No. 2 in the latest Clippd Team Rankings and earned its fourth consecutive No. 1 seed for the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Golf Championship. The Gamecocks will open play at the Auburn Regional next Monday seeking the program’s 21st trip to the NCAA Championship, 14 of which have come under Anderson’s tutelage.
Four Gamecocks earned All-SEC honors, which ties a program record set in 2022. Junior All-Americans Hannah Darling and Louise Rydqvist were named First Team All-SEC as Carolina was the only program in the league to have multiple players on the first team. Sophomore Mia Sandtorv Lussand and freshman Vairana Heck were named Second Team All-SEC with Heck also earning a spot on the SEC All-Freshman squad.
It’s the third time Darling has earned First Team All-SEC honors as she joins Gamecock Hall of Famers Kristy McPherson (2001, 2002, 2003) and Siew Ai Lim (1994, 1995, 1996) as the only players in program history to accomplish the feat. Darling, who is ranked No. 19 in the latest Clippd Player Rankings and No. 17 in the latest World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), has put together another fine season with a 71.21 scoring average and six top-20 finishes in eight stroke play starts. She picked up her first career victory in a loaded field at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate back in March. The Midlothian, Scotland, native’s career scoring average of 72.00 is the lowest in program history.
Rydqvist earns All-SEC honors for the second time in her career with her first appearance on the first team. The Värnamo, Sweden, native is having the best season of her career to date and leads the team with a 70.78 scoring average, seven top-20 finishes in eight stroke play starts and four top-five finishes including runner-up medalist honors at the SEC Championship at Pelican Golf Club just 3 weeks ago. She is ranked No. 10 in the latest Clippd Player Rankings and No. 42 in the latest World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR). Rydqvist picked up her first career win in the season-opening…
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