April 18, 2002

Columbia, S.C. –
Five University of South Carolina women’s golfers – including three of whom are participating this weekend at the SEC Championships in Athens, Ga. – were named Thursday to the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Leading the way is All-America Kristy McPherson, who has backed up her status as one of the nation’s top golfers with a stellar 3.60 grade point average in Sport Administration. The Conway, S.C., native earned first-team All-America honors last season and is defending her 2001 record-setting medalist performance at this weekend’s SEC Championships.

A quartet of Lady Gamecocks also made the prestigious academic list, including senior Reetta Laakkonen (3.50 GPA, Sport Administration), junior Kacy Thompson (3.41, Business), senior Sarah Kidd (3.06, Sport Administration) and junior Kristin Ruble (3.49, Computer Information Systems).

The University of Arkansas and Louisiana State University both topped the list with six student-athletes on the academic roster. The University of South Carolina, the University of Kentucky and the University of Alabama were close behind with five honorees.

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must: 1) have a 3.0 grade point average for either the past year or for their career, 2) be a sophomore or higher in academic classification, and 3) have 24 semester hours countable toward a degree. The 2002 SEC Women’s Golf Academic Honor Roll is based on grades from the 2000-01 academic calendar.

The 2002 SEC Women’s Golf Tournament begins Friday, April 19 and runs through Sunday, April 22 in Athens, Ga. FOX Sports Net will televise a championship special on April 25 at 5:30 p.m. (ET).