South Carolina’s women’s golf team is on track to defend its title at the 2024 ANNIKA Intercollegiate after a strong showing in the first two rounds at Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. Led by senior leaders Hannah Darling and Louise Rydqvist, the Gamecocks are currently 19 under par, a commanding 17 strokes ahead of the nearest competitor, Wake Forest. Coach Kalen Anderson praises the team’s maturity and experience, which has been key to their success so far in the tournament.
Darling, who is currently in the lead with 18 holes to go, has been in top form after leading the Great Britain and Ireland team to victory in the Curtis Cup. Despite Rydqvist dealing with a minor back injury, she has managed to stay competitive and is still in contention for the individual title. The exemption into the LPGA’s The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge is also on the line, with the winning team member earning a spot in the event. Rydqvist, who earned the exemption last year, will be looking to catch up to her teammate Darling to potentially earn it again.
The Gamecocks’ starting five remains the same as last year’s championship-winning team, with sophomore Maylis Lamoure also performing well in the tournament. Wake Forest is the only other team under par, with Duke not far behind. Junior Andie Smith of Duke had an impressive round on Tuesday, carding eight birdies to finish at 7-under 65, a significant improvement from her opening round. Behind Darling and Rydqvist on the leaderboard are Wake Forest’s Carolina Lopez-Chacarra and Iowa State’s Karisa Chul-Ak-Sorn.
With one round left to play, South Carolina is in a strong position to secure another victory at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate. Their dominant performance so far, led by the standout play of Darling and Rydqvist, has put them in the driver’s seat heading into the final day of competition. The team’s consistency and poise under pressure have been key factors in their success, as they aim to add another title to their impressive record in the event’s history. Fans of college golf can look forward to an exciting finish as the Gamecocks look to hold off their challengers and clinch the championship once again.
