Aug. 13, 2002

SCARBOROUGH, N.Y. – South Carolina veteran women’s golfers Kristy McPherson and Adrienne Gautreaux finished in the top 64 after 36 holes of stroke play and have advanced to the match play portion of the 102nd U.S. Women’s Amateur Golf Championship held at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club. USC signee Erica Battle (Irmo, S.C.) narrowly missed qualifying in a 15-player playoff on the par 71, 6,190-yard course.

The USC trio played two 18-hole rounds Monday and Tuesday with the top 64 individuals advancing to the match play portion of the event. The first two rounds of match play, consisting of 18 holes each, is scheduled for Wednesday, with the third round and quarterfinals set for Thursday. The semifinals are scheduled for Friday and the 36-hole final is set for Saturday.

Al three of the South Carolina players are in contention to advance to the match-play portion of the event that starts Wednesday.

McPherson, who shot a two-day 148 total, will face off against Annie Thurman of Highland, Utah, at 11:38 a.m. Wednesday. Should McPherson win, she would advance to the round of 32 against the Angela Jerman-McKenzie Dyslin winner at 3:30 p.m. Gautreaux had a two-day 149 total and takes on Becky Lucidi (Poway, Calif.) at 7:46 a.m. Wednesday. The winner of that match takes on the Chris Brady-Laura Myerscough winner at 1:38 p.m.

McPherson was near the cut line after 18 holes, and had an identical three-over 74 Tuesday but moved up to 38th place to qualify for match play. Already this summer, the two-time, first team All-American was on the winning USA team in the Japan-USA matches and was named the women’s MVP of the event. A native of Conway, S.C., McPherson ended the 2001-02 season by winning her second-straight SEC individual crown.

Gautreaux, who won her sectional qualifier, followed her one-under 70 Monday with an eight-over 79, but held on to advance to Wednesday’s match play. Battle finished in a 15-way tie for the final two spots for match play, but was not one of two individuals who captured a playoff. Battle, 13th after 18 holes with an even-par score, shot a nine-over 80 to finish in the tie for 63rd place.

The U.S. Women’s Amateur is one of 13 championships conducted by the United States Golf Association each year, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs. The U.S. Women’s Amateur is open to female amateur golfers who have USGA handicap indexes not exceeding 5.4. Entries closed June 19.