Dec. 5, 2004

Daytona Beach, Fla. – South Carolina volunteer assistant coach Clarissa Childs turned in her best round of the week Saturday, firing a two-under-par 70 at the Champions Course in Daytona Beach, Fla., to advance to the final round at the LPGA’s Qualifying School.

Two-time SEC Medalist Kristy McPherson as well as 2004 Dinah Shore Trophy winner Adrienne Gautreaux were also in action at Q-School, with McPherson shooting a three-over 75 and Gautreaux wrapping up with a four-over 76. Neither player made the cut.

After her excellent performance Saturday, Childs sits in a tie for 45th on the leaderboard through four rounds with a 71-74-77-70=292. Her group is set to tee off at 8:07 a.m. Sunday.

Friday’s action saw Gautreaux turn in her best score of the tournament when she fired a one-over 71 in the third round to lift her up 20 places on the leaderboard to 105th. The 71 she shot Friday was a score equal to the 71 fired in the first round by Childs, who struggled on day three, shooting a five-over 77. Sitting at six over for the tournament with a 71-74-77=222 through Friday, Childs was in a tie for 79th with, among others, McPherson, who carded an even-par 72 Friday for her best round of the tournament.

After the first day of competition, Childs sat in 11th on the leaderboard, shooting a one-under 71. Last year’s Dinah Shore Trophy winner, Gautreaux fired a two-over 74 to finish the first day in a tie for 55th on the leaderboard, while two-time SEC medalist Kristy McPherson came into the clubhouse after shooting a three-over 75 to finish day one in a tie for 80th.

Day two action saw Childs shoot a two-over 74 to bring her overall score to a one-over total of 145. She sat in 39th on the overall leaderboard through two rounds. McPherson turned in her second consecutive round of 75 on day two, and was 97th on the leaderboard at plus-6. Gautreaux struggled to find her way on day two, firing a six-over 80 to move her two-day score to 10-over 154, a mark that put her in 125th.

Action for Childs resumes Sunday.