Sept. 12, 2006

<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Albuquerque, N.M. – The South Carolina women’s golf team concluded final round play at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational Tuesday to finish fifth in the tournament with a score of 295-288-307=890 (+14).

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Leading the way for Carolina was freshman Bénédicte Toumpsin, who finished the tournament tied for second on the individual leader board with a three day score of 71-69-75=215 (-4). Toumpsin’s birdie on the 16^th hole pushed her into a tie for the lead before individual winner Catherine Matranga of Texas Christian University birdied with two holes remaining to take the title.

Senior Jenna Pearson, who entered the final round atop the individual leader board at 6-under, finished tied for fifth with a score of 72-67-77=216 (-3).

Junior Camila Mori finished the tournament tied for 44^th. Mori, who began the round tied for 65^th, had the best final round for the Gamecocks, improving 21 spots after hitting 1-over with three birdies. Her three day total was 79-76-74=229 (+10).

Juniors Blythe Worley and Laura Raffo also competed for Carolina, with Worley finishing tied for 55^th with a 74-76-81=231 (+12) and Raffo finishing tied for 70^th with a 78-76-82=236 (+17).

Final Team Standings

1       Arizona State   -7      F       294     281     294     869

T2      Brigham Young   +7      F       298     294     291     883

T2      UNLV            +7      F       291     298     294     883

4       TCU             +13     F       296     298     295     889

5       South Carolina  +14     F       295     288     307     890

6       New Mexico      +15     F       298     298     295     891

7       Florida         +21     F       302     294     301     897

8       Texas A&M       +23     F       294     291     314     899

T9      San Francisco   +29     F       303     301     301     905

T9      N. Mexico State +29     F       300     298     307     905

11      UNC-Wilmington  +34     F       307     301     302     910

12      UTEP            +37     F       291     305     317     913

13      San Diego State +42     F       302     309     307     918

T14     Oregon          +45     F       307     304     310     921

T14     Hawaii          +45     F       296     314     311     921

16      Texas           +49     F       304     314     307     925

17      Texas Tech      +54     F       312     301     317     930

Gamecocks On The Individual Leader Board

T2 Bénédicte Toumpsin -4 71-69-75=215

T5 Jenna Pearson -3 72-67-77=216

T44 Camila Mori +10 79-76-74=229

T55 Blythe Worley +12 74-76-81=231

T70 Laura Raffo +17 78-76-82=236