Razorback rally for seventh-place finish at ‘Darius Rucker’ in South Carolina

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Sixth-ranked Arkansas used an even-par 71 from senior Kaylee Benton to spur a move up the team leaderboard to finish seventh at the Darius Rucker Invitational at Long Cove Club on Sunday afternoon.

The Razorbacks began the day in 11th place but fired a 295 as a team to move up four spots. Benton was solid all day, turning in a one-under, bogey-free 35 on the front nine followed by a 36 on the back nine to finish with an even-par 213 over three rounds and tied for fifth overall.

Benton’s lone hiccup came on the par-four 11th when she carded a triple bogey but the Arizona native battled back to birdie the par-five 13th and par-four 18th.

Benton’s 71 was joined by Maria Fassi’s 72, Cara Gorlei’s 75 and Grace St-Germain’s 77 in the final round. Dylan Kim carded a team-high four birdies on the back nine but shot 78 on the afternoon.

No. 19 Florida State finished off a team victory as the only team to finish the weekend under par at 2-under (850) after a 1-over 285 on Sunday. No. 10 South Carolina, No. 13 Wake Forest, No. 3 Duke, No. 11 Auburn and No. 7 Vanderbilt finished ahead of the Razorbacks in a loaded field that included 12 teams inside the Top 25.

The Lineup
T5. Kaylee Benton E 69-73-71=213
T22. Maria Fassi +6 76-71-72=219
T53. Dylan Kim +14 76-73-78=227
T69. Grace St-Germain +18 77-77-77=231
T75. Cara Gorlei +19 81-76-75=232

The Field
1. Florida State -2 284-281-285=850
T2. South Carolina +15 282-299-286=867
T2. Wake Forest +15 285-288-294=867
4. Duke +17 289-284-296=869
T5. Auburn +30 294-292-296=882
T5. Vanderbilt +30 298-288-296=882
7. Arkansas +34 298-293-295=886
T8. Furman +35 291-292-304=887
T8. UCLA +35 295-289-303=887
10. Virginia +36 291-299-298=888
11. Georgia +37 297-294-298=889
12. Northwestern +39 300-295-296=891
13. LSU +42 290-293-311=894
14. Alabama +47 309-292-298=899
15. Baylor +49 299-303-299=901
16. Oklahoma State +57 01-305-303=909
17. North Carolina +59 305-299-307=911