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LAKE ELMO, Minn. — South Carolina is on track to defend its title.
The Gamecock women’s golf team was tied with 2023 national champion Wake Forest after the first round of the 2024 ANNIKA Intercollegiate at Royal Golf Club outside Minneapolis, but after a windy second round Tuesday, South Carolina has its sights set on hoisting the trophy again.
With the best round of the day by six shots, South Carolina is 19 under par after two rounds at ANNIKA, 17 shots ahead of Wake Forest with just one round remaining. And it’s a pair of senior leaders leading the way for the Gamecocks, perhaps the best duo in the country in Hannah Darling and Louise Rydqvist.
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“What I’m excited about is the maturity of this group right now,” coach Kalen Anderson said. “They’re playing with a lot of poise and a lot of experience.”
Last year, the Gamecocks won the tournament for the third time in its ninth edition. If they win again Wednesday, they would hold 40 percent of the titles in the event’s history.
Darling is the only one with 18 holes left to play. Two weeks ago, she led the Great Britain and Ireland team to victory in the Curtis Cup, going 3-1 in the biennial competition. This week, she has been brilliant, shooting 10 under par after 36 holes to take a three-shot lead over Rydqvist, who was last year’s co-medallist.
The other thing on the line Wednesday will be an exemption into the LPGA ANNIKA, hosted by Gainbridge. One member of the winning team will earn an exemption into the LPGA event, which Rydqvist earned last year.
And on Wednesday, she will have to catch up with her teammate to possibly get the exemption again.
“I’m really happy to see Hannah play so well,” Anderson said. “It’s great to come out here and get off to a good start.”
Anderson said Rydqvist is not fully recovered, with a minor back injury that has kept her playing at 75 percent. Still, that hasn’t stopped her from keeping control this week.
The Gamecocks have the same starting five this year that won the team title last year. Maylis Lamoure, a sophomore, is also in the top 10 and T-6.
Wake Forest is the only other team under par, at 2 under par. Duke will play in the final pair, at 1 over as a team. Junior Andie Smith had the best round of the tournament Tuesday, birding eight shots en route to a 7-under 65. She was 14 shots better than her opening round.
Behind Darling and Rydqvist are Wake Forest’s Carolina Lopez-Chacarra at 6 under, and Iowa State’s Karisa Chul-Ak-Sorn in fourth at 5 under.
This article was originally published on Golfweek: Defending champion from South Carolina builds big lead after two rounds at ANNIKA Intercollegiate
