Feb. 23, 2007

Rio Grande, Puerto Rico – Blythe Worley and Whitney Simons are tied for 10th place on the individual leader board at one over par and the South Carolina women’s golf team is in fourth place on the team leader board at six over through Friday’s first round at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic, played at the par-72 Coco Beach Golf Course. TCU leads the field at one-over par, with the Horned Frogs’ Valentine Derrey atop the individual leader board at five-under. At six-over-par, South Carolina is ahead of two top-25 teams, including top-ranked Georgia, who finished day one at 14-over.

Worley, who started her day on the course’s seventh hole, bogeyed two of her first three holes but settled down to birdie three of her next four holes and shoot even par over the next eight holes. She finished her day by going bogey-birdie-bogey on her final three holes.

Simons found herself at two-over-par through her first nine holes, but posted three birdies in her next seven holes to trim her score to one under. A pair of bogeys on the final two holes gave Simons her finishing score of one-over, which marked her best single-round score of the 2006-07 season.

Camila Mori’s day was similar to Simons’ in that she was at even par through her first 13 holes, but a trio of late bogeys on her 14th, 15th and 16th holes elevated her score. Jenna Pearson went the opposite route, scrambling a bit early but settling down for the remainder of the day. After starting her day with a birdie on the par-five fifth hole, the senior went three-over in her next eight holes before achieving par on each of her final nine holes to finish at two over for the day. Bénédicte Toumpsin dug an early hole for herself by going bogey, double-bogey and bogey on her second, third and fourth holes of the day to be at four-over-par in the very early going.

Playing as an individual with her score not counting toward the team total, junior Laura Raffo turned in a solid showing with a four-over 76 to lead the field of five individuals competing.

Second-round action resumes tomorrow.

Team Leader Board
1. TCU: 289 (+1)
T2. Oklahoma State: 292 (+4)
T2. Auburn: 292 (+4)
4. South Carolina: 294 (+6)
5. Purdue: 296 (+8)
6. Alabama: 297 (+9)
7. Oklahoma: 299 (+11)
8. Kent State: 301 (+13)
9. Georgia: 302 (+14)
10. NC State: 303 (+15)
11. Iowa State: 307 (+19)
12. UCF: 309 (+21)
13. Indiana: 310 (+22)
14. Wisconsin: 313 (+25)
15. Texas Tech: 314 (+26)
16. Minnesota: 320 (+32)

Gamecocks on the Individual Leader Board
T10. Whitney Simons: 73 (+1)
T10. Blythe Worley: 73 (+1)
T19. Camila Mori: 74 (+2)
T19. Jenna Pearson: 74 (+2)
T55. Bénédicte Toumpsin: 78 (+6)
*T33. Laura Raffo: 76 (+4)

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