March 27, 2010

ATHENS, Ga. – South Carolina’s women’s golf team rebounded nicely on Saturday from a tough start to the Liz Murphey Intercollegiate, posting a second-round 309 (+21) – a 15-stroke improvement over their first round – to move up to a tie for 14th place at the University of Georgia Golf Course.

Sophomore Katie Burnett had the best round of the first two days for the Gamecocks, carding 16 pars en route to a 75 (+3), seven shots better than her opening-round score. Her only blemishes on the scorecard came as she made the turn from the back nine to the front; she posted a double bogey at the first followed by a bogey at the second. But the native of Brunswick, Ga., finished with seven consecutive pars to post a solid round. She is tied for 36th place after two rounds.

Senior Benedicte Toumpsin was only one shot higher than Burnett, also moving into a tie for 36th place with a round of 76 (+4), a five-shot improvement over Friday. Toumpsin had a pair of birdies at the seventh and 15th holes to go along with two bogeys and two double bogeys. Corrine Carr was two shots better Saturday with a 79 (+7) to move up to a tie for 56th place, while Taylor Barrett posted a seven-shot improvement with a 79 of her own. Freshman Amanda Strang shot 82 in Saturday’s second round.

Fourth-ranked Duke continues to lead after their second consecutive round of 300 (+12); at 24-over par, the Blue Devils hold a nine-shot lead over second-ranked Auburn at 609 (+33). North Carolina is third at 614 (+38). Duke’s Lindy Duncan remains the only player in the field under par, posting an even-par round of 72 Saturday to maintain a five-shot lead over Wake Forest’s Cheyenne Woods. Alabama’s Jennifer Kirby and Virginia’s Calle Nielson are tied for third at 5-over.

Sunday’s final round is tentatively set for a shotgun start at 9 a.m., weather permitting. The Gamecocks will be paired with Georgia, Denver and Tulane, and those teams will begin on holes 10 through 12. Live scoring will be available through Golfstat.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
T36. Katie Burnett – 82-75=157 (+13)
T36. Benedicte Toumpsin – 81-76=157 (+13)
T56. Corrine Carr – 81-79=160 (+16)
T68. Amanda Strang – 80-82=162 (+18)
T92. Taylor Barrett – 86-79=165 (+21)