Oct. 1, 2002

Columbia, S.C. – The 17th ranked South Carolina women’s golf team has finished qualifying and is ready for their second tournament of the 2002-03 season in the Tar Heel Invitational, Oct. 4-6, on the campus of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The Lady Gamecocks finished in 15th place in their first tournament of the year, the NCAA Fall Preview.

Coach Kristi Coggins squad finished qualifying earlier this week and will take the following individuals to the tournament: senior Kristy McPherson, junior Marci Robinson, junior Adrienne Gautreaux, senior Kacy Thompson, and junior Kory Thompson. McPherson finished in a tie for 10th place in the NCAA Preview earlier in September.

The Lady Gamecocks captured the 2002 SEC crown in record-setting fashion, breaking both school and conference records in the process. USC advanced to the NCAA Championships for the second-consecutive season – including the seventh postseason appearance in eight years for a Coggins-coached USC team – and finished 23rd in the final 2002 poll.

Four of five starters return for Coggins, including two-time defending SEC champion and first team All-American McPherson. The Conway, S.C., native was the MVP of the USA-Japan Collegiate Golf Matches this summer and qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship along with Gautreaux and freshman Erica Battle. Kacy Thompson and Robinson are back after playing in every tournament a year ago.