Feb. 22, 2010

PARRISH, Fla. – South Carolina had an up-and-down day Monday at the Central District Invitational and stand in 11th place after 36 holes at River Wildnerness Golf Club. The Gamecocks shot rounds of 301 and 309, placing them at 34-over through two rounds.

The Gamecocks were led by seniors Corrine Carr and Benedicte Toumpsin on the day as both are tied for 30th place at 8-over par. Carr started off very strong with an opening round of 37-35=72 to stand at even par and tied for sixth place following the first 18 holes. However, she fought her way to a second-round 40-40=80 (+8) to drop to the tie for 30th place. Toumpsin, meanwhile, was consistent with matching rounds of 76 to reach the same number after 36 holes. Her first round was mostly solid with 14 pars along with four bogeys, but she matched three birdies with three bogeys and two double-bogeys in her second 18 in the afternoon.

Senior Taylor Barrett is two shots behind her classmates at 10-over-par 154, tied for 44th place. Playing in her first stroke-play event of the season, Barrett matched Toumpsin in the opening round with a one-birdie, five-bogey round of 76. But she posted seven bogeys to go along with a single birdie in her second round to sign for a 78. Sophomore Katie Burnett shot rounds of 77-80=157 (+13) to tie for 61st place, and freshman Amanda Strang struggled mightily in her first 18 holes with an 84, but came back to fire the Gamecocks’ top score in the second round with a 75 to move up to 67th place at 159 (+15).

Florida holds a 20-shot lead through two rounds as they are the only team under par at 571 (-5). TCU is in second place at 591 (+15), and Arkansas is another five strokes back at 596 (+20). The Razorbacks’ Kelli Shean leads the individual race at 140 (-4), with Florida’s Isabelle Lendl in second place at 3-under and TCU’s Valentine Derrey and the Gators’ Marika Lendl tied for third place at 2-under.

South Carolina will be paired with Michigan State and Northwestern for the final round of play, which gets underway with an 8 a.m. shotgun start on Tuesday. Live scoring is available through Golfstat.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
T30. Corrine Carr – 72-80=152 (+8)
T30. Benedicte Toumpsin – 76-76=152 (+8)
T44. Taylor Barrett – 76-78=154 (+10)
T61. Katie Burnett – 77-80=157 (+13)
T67. Amanda Strang – 84-75=159 (+15)