March 6, 2005

Gainesville, Fla. – – The South Carolina women’s golf team finished in a tie for ninth place at the SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational played at the University of Florida Golf Course in Gainesville after carding a final round 310 on Sunday. As a team, the Gamecocks shot a three-round score of 309-310-310=929.

Junior Erica Battle led the way for Carolina, carding a 75-74-78=227 to finish in a tie for 11th on the individual leaderboard. Her 11th-place finish matched her best finish of the year, as she finished in a tie for 11th at the ACC/SEC Challenge during the fall portion of the schedule.

Though Battle had the best individual finish for any Carolina player, senior Tiffany Catafygiotu turned heads with her improvement in Sunday’s final round. Catafygiotu shaved six strokes off her score from Saturday to Sunday, carding a final-round 74 to establish the lowest single round for a Gamecock this spring. Catafygiotu finished the tournament with an 82-80-74=236 to finish in a tie for 51st on the individual leaderboard.

Playing in the first spring tournament of her career, freshman Caroline Rominger was the most consistent Gamecock at the Lady Gator, turning in a 77-79-77=233 to finish in a tie for 33rd. Junior Jenna Pearson finished in a tie for 55th with a 77-80-81=238, with freshman Whitney Simons rounding out the Carolina lineup with an 80-77-82=239 to finish in a tie for 58th.

The Gamecocks return to action when they host the Lady Gamecock Invitational at the University Club next weekend.

Final ResultsT11th   Erica Battle   75-74-78-227 (+17)T33rd   Caroline Rominger 77-79-77=233 (+23)T51st   Tiffany Catafygiotu 82-80-74=236 (+26)T55th   Jenna Pearson 77-80-81=238 (+28)T58th   Whitney Simons   80-77-82=239 (+29)