Oct. 26, 2007

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – South Carolina women’s golf stands in fifth place just five strokes off the pace after the first round of the UA-Ann Rhoads Intercollegiate at NorthRiver Golf Course. Senior Whitney Simons matched her career low with a first-round 71 (E) to stand in fourth place and lead the Gamecocks.

Starting on the 10th tee, Simons struggled with a pair of bogeys in the first five holes. A birdie on the par-4 16th got her round back on track. Another birdie on No. 4 put her back at even but was followed by a bogey on No. 5. The senior sank a birdie put on the ninth hole to tie her career-best round.

Sophomore Bénédicte Toumpsin came in at 75 (+4) to hole 19th place after Friday’s play. She scorched the course early, going -3 over her first four holes. Three straight bogeys took her back to even at the turn. The final nine holes included three bogeys, a double bogey and a birdie.

Seniors Camila Mori and Blythe Worley are tied in 36th place, carding matching 77s. Worley’s three birdies off set two bogeys, two double bogeys and a triple bogey.

Freshman Erika Holmen posted a birdie on her first hole of the round, but could not find the range consistantly. She finished her round of 81 in 76th place. Playing as an individual, sophomore Taylor Barrett shot 78 to hold 48th place.

Arkansas leads the event by two strokes over Louisville with Notre Dame and Furman just behind. The Razorbacks’ Stacy Lewis leads the individual race after a first-round 68 (-3), one stroke ahead of Furman’s Steafnie Kenoyer

Play resumes on Saturday with the final round on Sunday.