Aug. 7, 2006

<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>North Plains, Ore. – University of South Carolina senior Jenna Pearson (Wheaton, Ill.) begins competition today in the prestigious 106^th U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Ore. The par-71 championship is one of the United States Golf Associations three original championships with the winner receiving exemptions from multiple championship qualifiers, including the U.S. Women’s Open.

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Pearson qualified on July 10 after a second place finish in the U.S. Women’s Amateur qualifier in Glencoe, Ill., with a score of 73.

The Women’s Amateur is conducted with 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying. The low 64 scorers then advance to match play, with the champion determined by a 36-hole match-play final on Sunday, August 13.

Pearson’s tee time is set for 2:42 p.m. Television coverage will begin with the first round of match play on August 9 and can be seen on The Golf Channel beginning at 7 p.m. Subsequent rounds will also be televised on The Golf Channel at 7 p.m. on successive days.