April 20, 2007

West Point, Miss. – The South Carolina women’s golf team is in fifth place with a 295 (+7) after opening round action at the 2007 SEC Championships, played at the par-72 Old Waverly Golf Club. Junior Blythe Worley carded a career-best 70 Friday to sit in a tie for fifth on the individual leader board at two-under par.

The Gamecocks are 10 strokes behind tournament leader Georgia heading into the second round.

Worley, who Wednesday was named to the SEC Community Service Team, kept the steady hand for the Gamecocks in the opening round with 14 pars. Worley hit par through her first eight holes before carding a bogey on her ninth hole to sit at one-over after completing the back nine. Three birdies in her final nine holes pushed Worley into the top five individually, three shots behind tournament leader Garrett Phillips of Georgia.

Senior Jenna Pearson joins Worley in the top 20 with a 74 (+2). Pearson sits tied for 19^th on the individual leader board. Bénédicte Toumpsin is one stroke behind Pearson and is tied for 23^rd with a 75 (+3). Camila Mori had an even day but had double-bogeys on the 5^th and 11^th holes to bring her score to a 76 (+4) with a share of 31^st.

Whitney Simons was also in action for the Gamecocks and sits tied for 52^nd at nine-over par.

Second round action resumes tomorrow. Live scoring can be found at www.golfstat.com.

Team Leader Board
1. Georgia: 285 (-3)
2. Alabama: 291 (+3)
3. Tennessee: 292 (+4)
4. LSU: 294 (+6)
5. South Carolina: 295 (+7)
T6. Florida: 296 (+8)
T6. Arkansas: 296 (+8)
T6. Vanderbilt: 296 (+8)
9. Auburn: 298 (+10)
10. Kentucky: 308 (+20)
T11. Ole Miss: 312 (+24)
T11. Mississippi State: 312 (+24)

Gamecocks On The Individual Leader Board
T5. Blythe Worley: 70 (-2)
T19. Jenna Pearson: 74 (+2)
T23. Bénédicte Toumpsin: 75 (+3)
T31. Camila Mori: 76 (+4)
T52. Whitney Simons: 81 (+9)