April 21, 2007

West Point, Miss. – The South Carolina women’s golf team, led by senior Jenna Pearson’s school-record 66, improved three spots Saturday and is in second place heading into the final round at the SEC Championships. Three Gamecocks finished the day in the top 10 on the individual leader board, led by Pearson who is tied for second after shooting a school-record six-under 66 Saturday at the par-72 Old Waverly Golf Club. The Gamecocks are eight strokes behind tournament leader Georgia and Pearson is one stroke behind leader Garrett Phillips of Georgia as the Gamecocks seek their first team and individual SEC Championship since 2002.

“I had no idea that I did that,” Pearson said regarding her school-record round. “That’s awesome.”

Pearson’s 66 bests the previous school record 67, also set by Pearson and current LPGA player Kristy McPherson. Pearson heads into the final round looking to be the first Gamecock to win the SEC individual title since McPherson won back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002. The Gamecocks also won the title as a team in 2002 with a three round score of 861.

“Talent-wise throughout, this is probably a more talented team than the 2002 team,” Coach Kristi Coggins said. ” I feel confident we will absolutely give ourselves a shot to win it. For this team, it’s a matter of going out and believing we’re the team to beat. The key tomorrow is to go out and continue to play aggressive golf and let the numbers speak for themselves.”

Pearson recorded six birdies and 12 pars Saturday to bring her two-day score to 140 (-4). She was the only person on the day to be at or under par on all 18 holes, improving 17 spots from Friday’s opening round.

“A couple of holes I hit were close,” Pearson said. “I putted well today and luckily a lot of them went in. I didn’t know where I stood (individually) but I tried not to think about it. I just wanted to make birdies and try to putt the ball in the hole.”

“Sixty-six is such a great number,” Coggins said. “It’s fun to see. Six birdies out there is great. That’s exciting it’s a school record. From the first time the team got on the course they liked it. It`s rewarding good shots, and they came together today.”

Juniors Blythe Worley and Camila Mori also enter the final day in the top 10. Worley recorded a 74 Saturday to bring her score to an even 144 and is tied for seventh on the individual leader board. Mori shot two-under Saturday and improved 21 spots to sit in a tie for ninth with a 146. Worley and Mori both held steady hands for the Gamecocks, each hitting 14 pars on the day.

Bénédicte Toumpsin sat at one-under after the first 10 holes but recorded bogeys on five of the final eight holes to finish the day with a 79 (+7). Her 154 heading into the final round gives her sole possession of 39^th place on the individual leader board.

“It’s nice to see three of five players shot under par in the last two days,” Coggins said. “The team is peaking at the right time. The SEC Championships are just as good a time as any to shine.”

Whitney Simons was also in action for the Gamecocks and hit an 81 for the second consecutive day to sit at 56^th on the individual leader board.

Final round action resumes Sunday. Live scoring can be found at www.golfstat.com.

Team Leader Board
1. Georgia: 285-291=576 (E)
2. South Carolina: 295-289=584 (+8)
3. Tennessee: 292-296=588 (+12)
T4. Alabama: 291-300=591 (+15)
T4. Florida: 296-295=591 (+15)
6. Arkansas: 296-299=595 (+19)
7. LSU: 294-303=597 (+21)
8. Vanderbilt: 296-303=599 (+23)
9. Auburn: 298-302=600 (+24)
10. Mississippi State: 312-295=607 (+31)
11. Kentucky: 308-308=616 (+40)
12. Ole Miss: 312-311=623 (+47)

Gamecocks On The Individual Leader Board
T2. Jenna Pearson: 74-66=140 (-4)
T7. Blythe Worley: 70-74=144 (E)
T9. Camila Mori: 76-70=146 (+2)
39. Bénédicte Toumpsin: 75-79=154 (+10)
56. Whitney Simons: 81-81=162 (+18)