Dec. 13, 2006

Columbia, S.C. – A total of seven former South Carolina women’s golfers are currently playing professionally, led by LPGA members Clarissa Childs, Siew Ai Lim and Kristy McPherson. Here’s a look at what each of the former Gamecocks are up to:

Childs (1992-96) finished fifth at the LPGA Qualifying School out of 138 players competing, and as one of the top 15 finishers, earned exempt status for the upcoming season. She can play in any LPGA tournament she chooses. The coming season will mark her sixth year on the LPGA Tour.

Debbie Eckroth (1988-92) competed in seven events on the Duramed FUTURES Tour in 2006, making the cuts at the Jalapeno Futures Golf Classic in McCallen, Texas and at the IOS Futures Golf Classic in El Paso, Texas. Eckroth, who has played professionally for 18 years, its set to make it 19 when the 2007 season gets underway.

Cecilia Ekelundh (1998-99) recently finished her rookie year on the LPGA Tour and has a conditional LPGA card after finishing 10th among players with non-exempt status. She is eligible to play in LPGA events this coming season.

Adrienne Gautreaux (2001-04) made a good run at earning a spot on the LPGA Tour but fell just short. She finished 8-over-par at the LPGA’s Q-School and missed the final day cut by one stroke. The 2004 Dinah Shore Trophy winner while at Carolina has exempt status on the Duramed FUTURES Tour for 2007.

Lim (1993-97) enjoyed the best season of her career to date in 2004, earning more than $175,000. She competed in 22 events in 2005, making 10 cuts and ranking among the top 100 players on tour for the second consecutive season. Lim joined the LPGA Tour in 1999. The coming season will be her ninth on the Tour.

McPherson (1999-2003) is the newest Carolina grad to earn a spot on the LPGA Tour, as she finished fourth on the Duramed FUTURES Tour money list in 2006. The top five players on the money list earn exempt status, so McPherson can play in any tournament she chooses this coming season. McPherson won two FUTURES Tour events in 2006, claiming the title at the Jalapeno Futures Golf Classic in McCallen, Texas and the Betty Puskar Futures Golf Classic in Morgantown, WVa. The Conway native and two-time SEC Individual Champion competed on The Golf Channel’s popular reality show, The Big Break VI: Trump National in 2006. She recently moved to Orlando, Fla., and was in attendance to watch the Gamecocks compete at the Hooters NGCA Match Play Championships during the Fall season.

Marianne Morris (1983-96) competed in nine events on the Duramed FUTURES Tour in 2006, tying for ninth at the Lima Memorial Hospital Futures Classic in Lima, Ohio. Morris fired three rounds in the 60s during the 2006 season and has won six FUTURES Tour events during her career. She is set to compete again in 2007.