Aug. 5, 2008

South Carolina junior Taylor Barrett opened the U.S. Women’s Amateur with 76 in the first round Monday at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Ore. Barrett carded four birdies in the round to hold a share of 56th place in the 155-golfer field. Duke’s Amanda Blumenherst was the first-round leader as she turned in a 66 on her first trip around the course.

Barrett started her round on No. 10 and erased a first-hole bogey with a birdie on the par-3 12th hole. She steadied herself with a pair of pars before a doulbe-bogey on the par-4 15th set her back. She recovered quickly with a birdie on the par-5 16th to make the turn at one-over. The Gamecocks’ rising junior birdied No. 1 to get back to even but fell to three-over on the next three holes. Barrett battled to the finish with a birdie and two bogeys to turn in her 76 for the round.

After Tuesday’s second round of stroke play, the field will be cut to 64 players for match play. The first round of match play is slated for Wednesday with second and third rounds scheduled for Thursday. Quarterfinal matches are on Friday, and the semifinals are set for Saturday. The 36-hole championship final will be played on Sunday.