Oct. 29, 2005

Destin, Fla. – With three players in the top five including the tournament’s overall leader, the South Carolina women’s golf team continues to lead the field at the Chrysler Challenge after carding a two-over-par 290 in Saturday’s second round played at the Raven Course in Destin, Fla. The tournament field consists exclusively of teams from the Southeastern Conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Junior Jenna Pearson owns a two-stroke lead on the field after two rounds with a 70-72=142. Alabama’s Jenny Suh is second 72-72=144. After shaving four strokes off her first round performance, Carolina sophomore Whitney Simons is in third place on the individual leader board with a 75-71=146. Senior Erica Battle is also in the top five, carding a 74-73=147. Though playing as an individual with her score not counting toward the team’s total, Gamecock sophomore Laura Raffo sits ninth with a two-day score of 73-76=149.

“We played solid today as a team and our girls are playing with so much presence right now,” Head coach Kristi Coggins said. “They are really having fun and enjoying themselves out there.”

Should the Gamecocks win the tournament, it would mark the 17th team championship in the history of the program and the first since Carolina won the 2002 Southeastern Conference Championship.

Senior Laura McCaslin is 15th at 78-74=152, with sophomore Camila Mori rounding out the Carolina effort with an 81-76=157.

Final round action resumes Sunday.

Chrysler ChallengeSecond Round Results
Team Scores1.  South Carolina       +11    297+290=5872.  Alabama              +28    301-303=6044.  Florida              +31    305-302=6073.  Mississippi State    +34    304-306=610T5. Louisiana State      +36    309-303=6127.  Florida State        +37    310-303=613T5. Ole Miss             +42    309-309=618

Gamecocks On The Individual Leader Board1. Jenna Pearson   -2  70-72=1423. Whitney Simons +2  75-71=1465. Erica Battle +3  74-73=147*9. Laura Raffo  +5  73-76=14915. Laura McCaslin    +8  78-74=15229. Camila Mori  +13 81-76=157
* Playing as an individual with score not counting toward the team total.