Oct. 6, 2006

<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Chapel Hill, N.C. – The South Carolina women’s golf team completed 21-over-par 288 to place ninth in the opening round of the Lady Tar Heel Invitational played at the UNC Finley Golf Course in Chapel Hill.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

Carolina’s opening round score places it ahead of six teams ranked in the top 25 teams in the nation. Four Gamecocks recorded birdies on the day after lightning and rain caused the event to delay until an 11:15 a.m. shotgun start.

Freshman Taylor Barrett and senior Jenna Pearson led the way for the Gamecocks with a four-over-par 76 to tie for 21^st on the individual leader board, along with the nation’s No. 6 player in Nicole Smith from Tennessee. Barrett was the only Carolina golfer to shoot under par on the difficult back nine, finishing the holes without a bogey.

Freshman Benedicte Toumpsin finished one stroke behind Pearson and Barrett after shooting a five-over-par 77. Toumpsin was the only Gamecock to record multiple birdies on the day, finishing with two.

Junior Camila Mori was the final Gamecock to hit a birdie on the day, sinking hole 10 in three shots. She finished the round at eight-over par 80.

Junior Whitney Simons participated in her first event of the season, shooting one stroke behind Mori for a nine-over-par 81.

Round two action begins Saturday morning.

Team Leader Board
1. Vanderbilt: 301 (+13)
2. Tennessee: 302 (+14)
T3. Duke: 303 (+15)
T3. Virginia: 303 (+15)
5. North Carolina: 304 (+16)
T6. North Carolina State: 306 (+18)
T6. Texas A&M: 306 (+18)
8. College of Charleston: 308 (+20)
9. South Carolina: 309 (+21)
T10. Ohio State: 310 (+22)

T10. Florida State: 310 (+22)

12. Auburn: 313 (+25)

T13. Tulsa: 315 (+27)

T13. Wake Forest: 315 (+27)

15. Oklahoma State: 317 (+29)

16. Louisiana State: 319 (+31)

17. Texas: 324 (+36)

Gamecocks on the Individual Leader Board
T21. Taylor Barrett: 76 (+4)
T21. Jenna Pearson: 76 (+4)
T34. Benedicte Toumpsin: 77 (+5)
T58. Camila Mori: 80 (+8)
T67. Whitney Simons: 81 (+9)