Aug. 7, 2002

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A quartet of South Carolina women’s golfers will head to the Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough, N.Y., next week to participate in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, Aug. 12-17. Senior Kristy McPherson, juniors Marci Robinson and Adrienne Gautreaux and incoming freshman Erica Battle will vie for top amateur honors.

A total of 150 golfers will participate in the event, starting Monday on the par 71, 6,190-yard course with 18 holes of stroke play. After 18 additional holes of stroke play Tuesday, the field is cut to 64 players for the match play portion of the tournament. The rounds of 64 and 32 will be played Wednesday, 16 and eight on Thursday, with the semfinals taking place Friday and the championship match Saturday.

Gautreaux, who was second on the team with a 76.67 stroke average in her first year at USC last season, won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Sectional Qualifying in Houston, Tex. (River Oaks Country Club) July 10 with an even-par 72.

McPherson posted a second place finish at her sectional at the Greensboro (N.C.) Country Club July 12. The Conway, S.C., native finished with a one-under 71 and finished three strokes back of North Carolina’s Heather Angell. McPherson recently was named the women’s most valuable player as the USA downed Japan in the USA-Japan Collegiate Golf Matches last month. She is a two-time All-American at USC and is the two-time defending SEC individual champion.

Robinson, who had a 78.29 stroke average last season at USC, qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur as an alternate. A native of Columbia and graduate of Spring Valley High School, she is awaiting word for a possible spot in the tournament.

Battle, who prepped at Irmo High School, finished fifth at her sectional qualifier in Atlanta, Ga., advancing on a third playoff hole after finishing in a 10-way tie for fifth place at one-over 73.

After action in New York, the quartet and remainder of the Lady Gamecock squad will begin fall classes and prepare for the 2002-03 season opener – the NCAA Preview, Sept. 15-17, in Lafayette, Ind.