May 10, 2001
Release: Upon Receipt
FURMAN WOMEN 14th at NCAA REGIONALS
CORVALLIS, Oregon -- Furman's Lady Paladin golf team fired a 312 in the first round of the NCAA West Regional, Thursday at the Trysting Tree Golf Club in Corvallis, Ore., and is in 14th-place in the 21-team field.
Furman, appearing in its ninth straight regional, is attempting to return to the NCAA National Championship, which it last attended in 1999. Junior Jennifer Perri made the National Championship as an individual in 2000, by virtue of a 21st-place finish at the NCAA East Regional in Columbus, Ohio.
In Thursday's opening round Perri and sophomore Brandi Jackson each fired 75 to lead the Lady Paladin team. Perri opened the round with her only birdie of the day on number 10 (Furman's first hole). Jackson, meanwhile, started the day with a bogey, but recorded two birdies, one on the par four 18th and another on the par five fifth.
Furman's remaining three players struggled against the long, thick, rough, which Trysting Tree officials allowed to grow for this tournament and the men's regional, slated for next week. Sophomore Sarah Johnston started the day with a double bogey followed by a triple, but went birdie-eagle on the 13th and 14th holes to make the turn at four over. On the front nine, Johnston totaled three bogeys en route to a 79.
Freshman Tiarna Harman began the day with three consecutive pars, but ended the round having made just six in the entire round. Harman's backside 41 was followed up with a 38 on the front, to give her a first-round 83 The Lady Paladin non-counter on the day was Leigh Turner, who got off to a bad start with a 10 on the par four 11th hole. Turner turned at 44 and made four bogeys on the front nine to shoot 84.
The Wildcats of Arizona lead the West Region field after carding a first-round 287. The top eight teams and top two individuals not on an advancing team will earn a berth in the NCAA Division I National Championship, slated for May 23-26 at the Mission Inn Resort and Golf Club in Howey-In-The-Hills, Fla.
Round two of the NCAA West Regional is slated to start Friday at 7:30 a.m. pacific time.
Furman Results
14th Furman Team 312
Jennifer Perri 37-38=75
Brandi Jackson 38-37=75
Sarah Johnston 39-40=79
Tiarna Harman 42-41=83
Leigh Turner 40-44=84