Oct. 4, 2008

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – No. 19 South Carolina got another solid performance from freshman Katie Burnett and remained in 13th place through two rounds at the Lady Tar Heel Invitational at UNC Finley Golf Course in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The Gamecocks improved by three strokes on day two with a 307 (+19) and stayed 13th at 41-over for the weekend. South Carolina is only three strokes out of the top 10 with UCF at +39 and NC State and Michigan State both at 38-over.

Burnett, playing her fifth competitive round as a collegian, shot an even-par 72 with six birdies to vault into a tie for 12th place heading into Sunday’s final round. The freshman from Brunswick, Ga., bogeyed two of her first six holes, but birdies at the 16th and 17th got her back to even par at the turn. She would not have another par until her final hole as she scattered four birdies and four bogeys on holes 1-8 to finish the day where she started, 4-over for the tournament. Burnett’s 72 was one of only 14 rounds of even par or better on the day in the 92-person field.

Junior Benedicte Toumpsin got off to a rough start with two double-bogeys and three bogeys through her first seven holes, but rebounded nicely with four birdies wrapped around another double-bogey to finish with a 77 (+5). The Belgium native stands in a tie for 30th at 8-over through two rounds.

Corrine Carr, playing her second tournament as a Gamecock, started strong with seven straight pars. But six bogeys over her final 11 holes gave her a 6-over-par 78, one stroke higher than Friday’s first round. Carr finds herself in a large group at 11-over, tied for 42nd heading into Sunday’s final round.

Taylor Barrett and Meredith Taylor both improved on their first-round scores Saturday, with Barrett going three strokes lower with an 80 (+8) and Taylor shaving one stroke at 81 (+9). Barrett and Taylor are both tied for 76th through two rounds of play.

In what has been a battle of attrition, Wake Forest managed to drop the fewest strokes Saturday and takes a commanding 11-stroke lead into Sunday’s final round at 585 (+9). North Carolina and Virginia are tied for second at 596 (+20). The Demon Deacons’ Natalie Sheary holds the individual lead at 141 (-3) after shooting her second straight round under par. Louisville’s Cindy LaCrosse is one stroke behind after shooting 68 (-4), the low round of the tournament so far.

Sunday’s final round will begin with a shotgun start at approximately 9:15 a.m. South Carolina’s players will go off tees 13, 14 and 15, and will be paired with Kentucky and Furman.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS