Sept. 28, 2001

Destin, Fla. –
The University of South Carolina women’s golf team posted a 309 Friday and finds itself in the middle of the hunt after the first round of the Second Annual Dodge ACC/SEC Invitational Shootout at the SanDestin Golf and Beach Resort. Florida (294) has a four stroke lead over Alabama in the team competition with Carolina 15 strokes back after 18 holes.

All-American and 2001 SEC Champion Kristy McPherson led the Lady Gamecocks with an even-par 71 Friday, and is tied for second place with Florida freshman Andrea Vnader Lende. South Carolina sophomore Adrienne Gautreaux is three over par with a 74 and is tied for ninth place. USC senior Reetta Laakkonen is tied for 21st place as after shooting a seven-over-par 78. Both senior Sarah Kidd and sophomore Kory Thompson are tied for 41st place with an 11-over-par 82. Kacy Thompson, a junior from Irmo and older sister of Kory, is tied for 43rd place with a 12-over-par 83.

In the team competition, the Gamecocks are in the middle of the hunt as they currently hold sixth place in the 12-team competition. The Gamecocks shot a 309 and are 15 strokes behind the Gators, who shot a 294. Alabama is second with a 298. North Carolina shot a 300 and is one stroke ahead of fourth-place Wake Forest, and three strokes ahead of fifth-place Mississippi State. South Carolina is in sixth with Furman in seventh place at 316. Florida State, the host team, and North Carolina State, are tied for eighth place after shooting a 323. Rounding out the field is Kentucky in 10th place with a 325 and Maryland in 11th place with a 334.

Darby Sligh of Alabama currently holds the lead in the individual competition with a three-under-par 68. McPherson is second at 71, while Whitney Code of Florida holds third place after shooting a one-over-par 72. The five Southeastern Conference schools hold a lead over the five Atlantic Coast Conference schools in the conference competition. Led by Florida, the SEC has four schools (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi State and South Carolina) currently residing in the top six while North Carolina and Wake Forest are the only ACC teams in the top six.

The second of three rounds gets underway at 8 a.m. Saturday.

South Carolina Results

6 South Carolina 309

T 2 Kristy McPherson 33 – 38 71 E

T 9 Adrienne Gautreaux 37 – 37 74 +3

T 21 Reetta Laakkonen 37 – 41 78 +7

T 41 Sarah Kidd 42 – 40 82 +11

T 41 Kory Thompson 45 – 37 82 +11

T 43 Kacy Thompson 40 – 43 83 +12