March 25, 2006

Athens, Ga. – With Saturday’s second round completed at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic played at the par-72 University of Georgia Golf Course, the South Carolina women’s golf team stands in ninth place with a 317-309=626 (+50). The Gamecocks, who shaved eight strokes off their first round effort, trail tournament leader Georgia by 23 strokes.

Sophomore Whitney Simons is in a tie for ninth place on the individual leader board with a 76-75=151 (+7) and is only three strokes behind tournament leader Nicole Hage from Auburn heading into Sunday’s final round. Junior Jenna Pearson’s 77-79=156 (+12) puts her in a tie for 28th, with Laura Raffo tied for 40th with an 80-78=158 (+14). Senior Erica Battle showed the largest improvement from the first round of any Carolina golfer, as she is now tied for 54th after carving seven strokes off her first round score. Battle enters Sunday 17 strokes over par with an 84-77=161. Senior Laura McCaslin rounds out the Gamecock contingent with an 85-83=168 (+24).

Final round action resumes Sunday.

Team Leader Board
1. Georgia: 301-302=603 (+27)
2. Wake Forest: 298-310=608 (+32)
3. Auburn: 308-304=612 (+36)
4. Vanderbilt: 305-310=615 (+39)
5. Kent State: 311-305=616 (+40)
6. Florida State: 307-310=617 (+41)
T7. Washington: 312-309=621 (+45)
T7. Ohio State: 314-307=621 (+45)
9. South Carolina: 317-309=626 (+50)
10. Michigan State: 316-312=628 (+52)
11. Arkansas: 324-309=633 (+57)
12. Alabama: 320-319=639 (+63)
13. Mississippi State: 320-325=645 (+69)
T14. Oklahoma: 319-328=647 (+71)
T14. Coastal Carolina: 320-327=647 (+71)
T14. East Carolina: 332-315=647 (+71)
17. Ole Miss: 324-333=657 (+81)
18. Furman: 334-325=659 (+83)

Gamecocks on the Individual Leader Board
T9. Whitney Simons: 76-75=151 (+7)
T28. Jenna Pearson: 77-79=156 (+12)
T40. Laura Raffo: 80-78=158 (+14)
T54. Erica Battle: 84-77=161 (+17)
T81. Laura McCaslin: 85-83=168 (+24)