Oct. 29, 2006

Columbia, S.C. – A strong final-round showing Sunday by the South Carolina women’s golf team propelled the Gamecocks to a tie for fifth finish at the Auburn Derby Invitational, as the Gamecocks posted a 311-299=610 at the event, played at the par-72 Auburn University Club at Yarbrough Farms.

Junior Blythe Worley led a trio of Carolina players who finished in the top 20 at the event, as she finished in a tie for seventh with a 77-72=149 (+5), a mark that put her four strokes behind tournament-winner Marisa Milligan from Auburn. Worley was remarkably steady on Sunday, achieving par on each of her first 15 holes. She quickly erased a bogey on her 16th hole with a birdie on her 17th hole before finishing her day with a par on 18. Worley’s performance at The Derby ranks as the finest of her career to date by a wide margin, as it marked her first top-10 finish.

Freshman Taylor Barrett, the 2005 Beth Daniel Award winner as the top high school player in the state of South Carolina, posted the best finish of her young career as well, finishing in a tie for 14th with a 79-72=151 (+7). The York Comprehensive HS graduate fired six birdies in Sunday’s final round and found herself as low as three strokes under par at one point. Playing in only the third tournament of her collegiate career, Barrett finished ahead of 13 players ranked in this week’s Golfweek individual rankings.

Senior Jenna Pearson turned in another solid performance during the weekend, firing a 75-77=152 (+8) to finish in a tie for 17th. She achieved par on 14 holes on Sunday.

Competing as an individual with her score not counting toward the team, junior Laura Raffo fired a 79-77=156 (+12) to tie for 39th. Classmate Whitney Simons tied for 58th with an 80-78=158 (+14) and freshman Bénédicte Toumpsin rounded out the Carolina effort with an 81-81=162 (+18) to finish 79th.

The Gamecocks put a cap on their fall season next week when they travel to the NGCA Match Play Championships in Orlando, played at the par-73 Eagle Creek Golf Club Nov. 3-5.

Team Leader Board
1. Auburn: 303-291=594 (+18)
2. Alabama: 308-298=606 (+30)
3. Tennessee: 309-299=608 (+32)
4. North Carolina: 301-308=609 (+33)
T5. Florida: 313-297=610 (+34)
T5. LSU: 305-305=610 (+34)
T5. South Carolina: 311-299=610 (34)
8. Florida State: 309-303=612 (+36)
T9. Birmingham Southern: 315-300=615 (+39)
T9. Nebraska: 310-305=615 (+39)
11. Mississippi: 309-308=617 (+41)
12. Baylor: 306-313=619 (+43)
13. Furman: 311-309=620 (+44)
14. Central Florida: 322-303=625 (+49)
15. Kansas: 327-309=636 (+60)
16. Mississippi State: 320-317=637 (+61)
17. Texas:334-320=654 (+78)

Gamecocks On The Individual Leader Board
T7. Blythe Worley: 77-72=149 (+5)
T14. Taylor Barrett: 79-72=151 (+7)
T17. Jenna Pearson: 75-77=152 (+8)
T39*. Laura Raffo: 79-77=156 (+12)
T58. Whitney Simons: 80-78=158 (+14)
79. Bénédicte Toumpsin: 81-81=162 (+18)

* Competing as an individual with score not counting toward team’s total.