March 10, 2006

Blythewood, S.C. – With day one of the 2006 Lady Gamecock Classic complete, Tennessee owns a one-stroke lead on Furman and a two-stroke advantage on Florida State and Virginia for the team lead with a 12-over-par 300. Florida State’s Caroline Westrup tops the individual leader board with a two-under 70. She is the only player in the field under par heading into Saturday’s second round and holds a two-stroke lead on Tennessee’s Golda Johnansson, whose even-par 72 makes her the only other player in the field not over par.

Rain soaked the University Club course Thursday night and early Friday morning, slowing the greens and inflating scores for many of the players in the field.

Though the Lady Vols pace the field, six teams are within six strokes of Tennessee heading into the second round, so the tournament remains wide open going in to the weekend.

South Carolina struggled as a team Friday, with sophomore Whitney Simons leading the way for the Gamecocks with a five-over-par 77 to finish the first round in a tie for 18th on the individual leader board, seven strokes off Westrup’s lead. Junior Jenna Pearson’s six-over 78 was aided by birdies on the par-4 first hole and the par-5 sixth. Erica Battle finished her day with a seven-over 79, with Camila Mori coming in at eight-over par despite birdies on the par-5 fifth hole and the par-4 13th. Laura McCaslin rounded out the Carolina lineup with a nine-over 81.

“We gave some shots away today and our patience level needed to be better,” Gamecock head coach Kristi Coggins said. “We tried really hard to make some things happen today instead of letting them happen on our home course. We’re disappointed with our performance today and we will look to play more relaxed tomorrow.”

Gamecock sophomores Blythe Worley and Laura Raffo are both competing as individuals, with Worley finishing Friday with a seven-over 79 and Raffo coming in with an eight-over 80.

Round two action resumes tomorrow, with the first groups going off the first and 10th tees at 8:30 a.m., respectively.

Team Leader Board
1. Tennessee: 300 (+12)
2. Furman: 301 (+13)
T3. Florida State: 302 (+14)
T3. Virginia: 302 (+14)
5. Auburn: 304 (+16)
T6. Wake Forest: 305 (+17)
T6. North Carolina State: 305 (+17)
T8. South Carolina: 314 (+26)
T8. Augusta State: 314 (+26)
10. East Tennessee State: 319 (+31)
11. Minnesota: 330 (+42)

Gamecocks on the Individual Leader Board
T18. Whitney Simons: 77 (+5)
T27. Jenna Pearson: 78 (+6)
T37. Erica Battle: 79 (+7)
T43. Camila Mori: 80 (+8)
48. Laura McCaslin: 81 (+9)

T37. Blythe Worley: 79 (+7)
T43. Laura Raffo: 80 (+8)