Pearson Leads Gamecocks on Day One at LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic

March 16, 2007

Baton Rouge, La. – Jenna Pearson sits tied for third on the individual leader board at one-under par and the South Carolina women’s golf team is tied for 11^th place after the first round of the LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic held at the par-72 University Club.

Pearson is one of only six players to record four birdies on the day and finished ahead of 27 players currently ranked in the top-100 in the nation. She bogeyed the opening hole and sat at one-over before collecting her first birdie on the ninth hole. After collecting two bogeys and birdies each on the next five holes, Pearson birdied on the 18^th hole to sit tied for third with a score of 71 for the day.

South Carolina as a team turned in a 310 (+22) performance in the opening round action. They are tied with No. 19 Wake Forest for 11^th place. No. 7 Vanderbilt currently stands atop the leader board with a first round score of 294 (+6) to lead the field by four strokes.

BÃƒÂ©nÃƒÂ©dicte Toumpsin carded a five-over par 77 to finish tied for 32nd on the individual leader board. Toumpsin sat at an even par after the first eight holes before double-bogeying the ninth hole, followed by bogeys on the 10^th, 12^th and 14^th holes before settling down. Camila Mori and Blythe Worley are both tied for 68th after carding an opening round 81. Taylor Barrett rounded at the scoring with an 84.

Second round action resumes Saturday at 8 a.m. CT.

Team Leader Board
1. No. 7 Vanderbilt: 294 (+6)

T2. No. 1 Duke: 298 (+10)

T2. No. 13 Tennessee: 298 (+10)

4. No. 6 Auburn: 299 (+11)

5. No. 22 North Carolina: 300 (+12)

6. Alabama: 301 (+13)

7. Louisville: 306 (+18)

8. LSU: 307 (+19)

9. North Carolina State: 308 (+20)

10. College of Charleston: 309 (+21)

T11. South Carolina: 310 (+22)