July 18, 2007

Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina women’s golfer Taylor Barrett has qualified for the 107th U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship after advancing at a qualifier held at the Sapona Country Club in Lexington, N.C. on Thursday, July 5.

Barrett, a sophomore from York, S.C., posted a two-over par 73 to tie for tenth. She advanced by hitting a birdie on the third hole of a playoff round.

“This is my first time at the Women’s Amateur,” Barrett said. “I’ve been in the Public Links three times. (This) was exciting because the Women’s Amateur is bigger. I’m ready to see how I compete at a high level. I’ve qualified for six USGA events and qualified for them all in the playoffs. Qualifying like that is nerve-wracking but fun.”

Barrett competed in six tournaments for the Gamecocks this season, posting a low round of 70 at the LSU/Cleveland Classic. Her best finish came at The Derby Invitational when she tied for 14th.

“It’s exciting for (her just being) a rising sophomore,” Coach Kristi Coggins said. “Taylor is such a great talent and competitor. I think she can go and win the whole thing because she’s great at match play. I’m excited for her and to see how it ends up.”

The U.S. Women’s Amateur is considered the highest honor in women’s amateur golf. Play begins on Monday, Aug. 6 at the par-72 Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind. The Amateur will feature two rounds of stroke play to cut the field from 156 to 64, and then the golfers will compete in match play for four rounds. The final day of competition on Sunday, Aug. 12 will see the remaining two players going head-to-head for 36 holes of match play for the Championship title.

Barrett graduated from York Comprehensive High School as the number one ranked golfer in the state. She was recognized as the South Carolina Class 3A Player of the Year in 2003 and was the Class 4A Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005. Barrett was the 2005 winner of the South Carolina Junior Golf Association’s Beth Daniel Award as the top player in the state after winning individual championships at the 2004 and 2005 Class 4A State Championships.