March 20, 2009

AUSTIN, Texas – Freshman Katie Burnett fired a 2-over-par 74 on Friday to lead the South Carolina women’s golf team at the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational, being played at the University of Texas Golf Club. The Gamecocks stand 15th after the first day with a team score of 310 (+22).

Burnett played her usual steady round with a pair of birdies and four bogeys on the front nine before rolling off 10 straight pars to finish her round. The freshman from Brunswick, Ga., is tied with seven other players in 24th place heading into Saturday’s second round.

Senior Meredith Taylor turned in a solid round with a 4-over 76 that included a birdie at the par-4 17th. She stands tied for 44th overall through one round of play. Junior Benedicte Toumpsin was one shot back of Taylor in a tie for 51st place after a 5-over 77.

No. 2 Arizona State holds the tournament lead at 1-under after a 287 in Friday’s first round. One shot back is Arkansas at even par, and Vanderbilt and Purdue are tied for third place at 3-over-par.

The leaderboard is crowded at the top with six players tied for the lead at 2-under and another six players one stroke back at 1-under. The six players tied for the lead are Jodi Ewart (New Mexico), Maria Hernandez (Purdue), Stefanie Kenoyer (Furman), Maude-Aimee LeBlanc (Purdue), Lucy Nunn (Arkansas) and Jennifer Osborn (Arizona State).

Second-round play gets underway Saturday morning with South Carolina going off the 10th tee in the second wave of tee times, paired with Texas and Tulsa. Live results and full leaderboards are available at golfstat.com.

CAROLINA RESULTS/SECOND ROUND TEE TIMES
T24. Katie Burnett – 74 (+2) – 9:45 a.m.
T44. Meredith Taylor – 76 (+4) – 9:36 a.m.
T51. Benedicte Toumpsin – 77 (+5) – 9:27 a.m.
T83. Cayci Ruppe – 83 (+11) – 9:18 a.m.
T91. Taylor Barrett – 86 (+14) – 9:09 a.m.

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Arizona State (-1)
2. Arkansas (E)
T3. Vanderbilt (+3)
T3. Purdue (+3)
5. New Mexico (+4)
6. Notre Dame (+8)
7. Duke (+11)
T8. Oklahoma (+14)
T8. Furman (+14)
10. UCF (+15)
11. Chattanooga (+16)
12. Arizona (+18)
13. Texas (+19)
14. Tulsa (+20)
15. South Carolina (+22)
16. Texas A&M (+23)
17. Florida State (+29)