Feb. 24, 2006

Rio Grande, Puerto Rico – With the first round completed at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic played at the Coco Beach Golf and Country Club, the South Carolina women’s golf team is in seventh place among the 16 teams competing in the field, as the Gamecocks fired an 18-over-par 306 Friday. Carolina is 11 strokes behind tournament-leader Purdue, whose seven-over-par 295 is good for a two-stroke lead on the field.

Sophomore Whitney Simons had the lowest score among Carolina players Friday with a two-over-par 74. She is tied for 10th place on the individual leader board and is six strokes behind North Carolina’s Ann Laney, whose four-under 68 leads the field by three strokes.

Senior Erica Battle is tied for 33rd after firing a five-over-par 77. After finishing the front nine at one under par, Battle struggled on the back nine, coming in at six-over. Among the players tied with Battle is teammate Camila Mori. Senior Laura McCaslin and junior Jenna Pearson are one stroke behind Battle and Mori and find themselves tied for 38th on the individual leader board after shooting a six-over-par 78.

Competing as an individual with her score not counting toward the team’s total is sophomore Laura Raffo, who concluded Friday’s first round with a nine-over-par 81 to sit in a tie for 59th on the individual leader board.

Second round action resumes tomorrow.

Team Leader Board
1 Purdue 295 +7
2 Kent State 297 +9
3 Arkansas 298 +10
4 Florida 299 +11
5 Oklahoma State 300 +12
6 North Carolina 301 +13
7 South Carolina 306 +18
8 TCU 307 +19
9 Tulsa 308 +20
10 Texas A&M 309 +21
11 Oklahoma 312 +24
12 East Tennessee State 319 +31
13 Wisconsin 320 +32
14 Indiana 322 +34
15 Iowa State 327 +39
16 Minnesota 328 +40

Gamecocks On The Individual Leader Board
T10. Whitney Simons 74 (+2)
T33. Erica Battle 77 (+5)
T33. Camila Mori 77 (+5)
T38. Laura McCaslin 78 (+6)
T38. Jenna Pearson 78 (+6)

T59. Laura Raffo* 81 (+9)

* Playing as an individual. Score does not count toward team total.