April 16, 2004

The University of South Carolina women’s golf team opened the 2004 SEC Championships Friday with a 15-over-par 303 and sit in eighth place with two rounds to play. The tournament is being held at the par 72, 6300-yard University Club course in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

South Carolina is behind 2003 SEC champion, and current leader, Auburn, by 11 strokes as the Tigers fired a four-over-par 292 Friday. Sophomore Violeta Retamoza of Tennessee leads all golfers after firing an opening round 69.

Senior Marci Robinson led the Gamecocks with a one-over par 73 as the Columbia, South Carolina native made three birdies on the first day and sits in a tie for sixth place. Team captain Adrienne Gautreaux carded a three-over-par 75 for a share of 19th place. First-time SEC Championship participants Jenna Pearson and Erica Battle are in 27th and 44th place, respectively, as Pearson shot a 76 while Battle recorded a 79 (+7). Kory Thompson is also tied for 44th place after shooting a 79 on day one.

The Gamecocks begin teeing off Saturday at 9:20 a.m. (Central Time) on hole 10. USC is paired with Alabama and Florida in round two.

Gamecock GolfersT 6th   Marci Robinson               73 (+ 1)T 19th  Adrienne Gautreaux           75 (+ 3)T27th   Jenna Pearson             76 (+ 4)T44th   Erica Battle                79 (+ 7)T44th   Kory Thompson     79 (+ 7)
Team Results1   Auburn                    292 (+4)2   Vanderbilt                 295 (+7)3   Tennessee          296 (+8)4   Arkansas                   297 (+9)5   Georgia                298 (+10)6   Louisiana State            299 (+11)7   Florida                    302 (+14)8   South Carolina         303 (+15)T9  Alabama                    306 (+18)T9  Mississippi St.        306 (+18)T11 Kentucky                   315 (+27)T11 Mississippi        315 (+27)