March 31, 2006

Browns Summit, N.C. – With Friday’s first round complete at the Bryan National Collegiate played at the Bryan Park Champions Course, the South Carolina women’s golf team is in ninth place with a 21-over-par 309 and trails tournament leader Purdue by 14 strokes.

The Gamecocks were led by sophomore Whitney Simons, who fired a three-over-par 75 Friday and was bolstered by a strong finish. The Aiken native posted a birdie and six pars on her final seven holes and finished the day in 14th on the individual leader board, eight strokes behind the tournament leader — and nation’s top-ranked player — Elizabeth Janangelo from Duke.

Sophomore Laura Raffo finished Friday’s action with a five-over 77 and is tied for 30th on the individual leader board. She is one stroke ahead of teammate Blythe Worley, who is tied for 30th at six over and is two strokes ahead of Gamecock junior Jenna Pearson, who is tied for 53rd at seven over. Senior Erica Battle rounded out the Carolina effort with a nine-over-par 81. She is tied for 67th.

Round two action resumes tomorrow.

Team Leader Board
1. Purdue 295 (+7)
2. Duke 298 (+10)
3. NC State 299 (+11)
T4. Georgia 300 (+12)
T4. Florida 300 (+12)
6. Wake Forest 303 (+15)
T7. Oklahoma State 306 (+18)
T7. Tennessee 306 (+18)
9. South Carolina 309 (+21)
10. California 310 (+22)
11. College of Charleston 311 (+23)
T12. UNC Wilmington 312 (+24)
T12. Virginia 312 (+24)
14. LSU 314 (+26)
15. Vanderbilt 316 (+28)
T16. UNC Greensboro 323 (+35)
T16. North Carolina 323 (+35)

Gamecocks On The Individual Leader Board
T14. Whitney Simons 75 (+3)
T30. Laura Raffo 77 (+5)
T40. Blythe Worley 78 (+6)
T53. Jenna Pearson 79 (+7)
T67. Erica Battle 81 (+9)