Aug. 9, 2006

<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>North Plains, Ore. – South Carolina women’s golfer Jenna Pearson’s run in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship ended Wednesday as she fell to Ayaka Kaneko, “21 holes,” in the first round of match play, played at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Ore. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

After finishing the preliminary rounds with a score of 77-74=151, Pearson battled Kaneko throughout the match play round. Kaneko did not hold an advantage once throughout the first 18 holes. Pearson alternated between 1-up and 2-up for six consecutive holes before the players remained All Square from hole 13 to 16. Pearson’s birdie on hole 17 left her in prime position to advance, but she bogeyed the 18^th hole to force extra holes. The two then shot par on the first two holes before a Pearson bogey resulted in the loss, “21 holes.”

Both players shot an even par 71 through the first 18 holes, Pearson’s best round of the tournament.

Kaneko, 16, fell in the third round of the U.S. Women’s Amateur last year. The Hawaii native has turned in a solid performance thus far in this year’s event, finishing the stroke play rounds at No. 4 after shooting an even par 71-71=142.

The U.S. Women’s Amateur was the last stop on Pearson’s summer schedule as she next prepares for her senior season at USC.