June 29, 2004

Williamsburg, Va. – University of South Carolina women’s golfer Jenna Pearson advanced to the quarterfinal round at the USGA Women’s Amateur Public Links before falling 5-and-4 in match play to golf superstar Michelle Wie at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club in Williamsburg, Va., this weekend.

Pearson started the championship with a convincing 3-and-2 win over James Madison University’s Kansas Gooden before claiming a 1-up victory over University of New Mexico standout Shannon Johnson. In the round of 16, Pearson handed UNLV’s Elena Kurokawa a 2-and-1 defeat before facing Wie.

Pearson had an excellent showing in the stroke play rounds, carding a one-under 71 in the first round and a blistering six-under 66 in the second round. Pearson’s second round was highlighted by seven birdies, four of which came on the back nine. Her two-round stroke play score of 137 was the second-best of any competitor in the field and was four strokes better than Wie’s stroke play total of 141.

USC teammate and Irmo native Erica Battle, who earlier in the month won the Sonic Women’s City Championship, also competed at the USGA Women’s Amateur Public Links, suffering a 4-and-2 setback at the hands of eighth-seeded Carling Cho of Saddleback (Calif.) College in the first round.