May 8, 2007

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The Basics<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

The No. 25 South Carolina women’s golf team competes as the ninth seed at the 2007 NCAA Women’s Golf East Regional Championship played May 10-12 at the par-72, 6,403-yard University Club in <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Baton Rouge, La. The Gamecocks earned their ninth consecutive NCAA Regional bid and are making their 12th trip to the postseason in 13 years under head coach Kristi Coggins.

The Gamecocks will play a familiar course at the East Regional, as Carolina competed at the University Club March 16-18, finishing ninth in a 21-team field highlighted by 17 teams that earned NCAA Regional berths this year. Carolina has gone head-to-head against all eight teams seeded ahead of it in various tournaments this spring, finishing ahead of four of the teams at least once.

The Gamecocks are one of 10 top-25 teams competing in the East Regional. In addition, the nation’s No. 26 team is also included in the East Regional field. None of the other three regionals has more than eight top-25 teams. Carolina is one of nine SEC teams included in the NCAA regional field. No other conference placed more than seven of its teams in the postseason.

How To Get Results

Live scoring will be kept throughout the tournament on www.golfstat.com, with results available at the end of each day on uscsports.com

NCAA East Regional Field (GolfWeek Ranking)

1. Duke (2), 2. UCLA (12), 3. Auburn (5), 4. Purdue (7), 5. Texas A&M (14), 6. North Carolina (17), 7. Alabama, 8. Wake Forest (18), 9. South Carolina (25), 10. Virginia (21), 11. Florida State (23), 12. LSU, 13. Louisville, 14. South Florida, 15. NC State, 16. Birmingham Southern, 17. Furman, 18. College of Charleston, 19. Western Carolina, 20. Jacksonville State, 21. Jackson State

South Carolina Lineup

Jenna Pearson (Sr.) 74.85 Stroke Average

Blythe Worley (Jr.) 77.39 Stroke Average

Camila Mori (Jr.) 77.17 Stroke Average

Bénédicte Toumpsin (Fr.) 76.00 Stroke Average

Whitney Simons (Jr.) 78.47 Stroke Average

Last Time Out

Senior Jenna Pearson and junior Blythe Worley both posted top-10 finishes for South Carolina at the Southeastern Conference Championship in leading the Gamecocks to a fourth-place finish at the event played April 20-22 at the par-72 Old Waverly Golf Club. Pearson finished the tournament tied for fifth on the individual leader board with a one-over-par 217, with Worley claiming 10th with a four-over 220. Shooting a season-best 887 (+23) at the SEC Championship, the Gamecocks’ fourth-place finish put them ahead of four of the nation’s top-25 teams.

Pearson provided South Carolina’s first top-five finish at the SEC Championship since two-time SEC Champion and current LPGA player Kristy McPherson finished third in 2003.

The Gamecocks’ performance marked Carolina’s fourth top-four finish at the SEC Championship in the last seven years. Four Gamecocks – Pearson, Worley, Camila Mori, and Bénédicte Toumpsin – finished in the top 25 on the individual leader board. The weekend score ties for the fifth lowest 54-hole team score in school history.

Pearson Named Second Team All-SEC

Jenna Pearson earned a spot on the second-team all-Southeastern Conference squad. It is the first time in her career that Pearson has received all-conference honors, with the recognition coming on the heels of Pearson being named the South Carolina Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year at the Gamecocks’ All-Sports Banquet earlier in the week.

Pearson was also named the South Carolina Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year award at the 2007 Gamecock All-Sports Awards Banquet on April 23 in addition to being recognized as the women’s golf team most valuable player.

Pearson Sets New School Record

Senior Jenna Pearson set a school record for lowest single round when she carded a 66 in the second round at the SEC Championships. Pearson carded six birdies on the day to sit at six-under on the par-72, 6,242-yard Old Waverly Golf Club course in West Point, Miss.

Her school record round bested the previous mark of 67, set by current LPGA pro Kristy McPherson in 2001 and matched by Pearson in the season-opener this year. McPherson fired the 67 in the first round at the 2001 SEC Championship, played on the par-72 University of Florida Golf Course, while Pearson hit the mark in the second round at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational.

Gamecocks in Top 100

Senior Jenna Pearson remains in the Top 100 for the fifth consecutive week. Pearson jumped nine spots after finishing tied for fifth at the SEC Championships and is ranked No. 41 heading into the NCAA East Regional Championships. She peaked at No. 36 earlier this season prior the Lady Puerto Rico Classic the week of October 6.