FURMAN’S JACKSON CARDS 84 AFTER TROUBLE ON 16

WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana – Furman senior Brandi Jackson fought through wind and rain in the opening round of the NCAA National Championahips on Tuesday, and was four over after 15 holes before ending quintuple bogey, double bogey, bogey to shoot 84 on the day.

Bogies on the par four first hole, the par five sixth hole and the par four eighth hole put Jackson at three over at the turn. Not bad considering the weather, which consisted of gusting winds, heavy drizzle, and cold temperatures. Jackson even got a stroke back on the par five 10th, hitting a seven iron to 12 feet and draining the putt for a birdie four. She gave the stroke back on number 11, however, leaving a seven wood into the wind short on her approach.

“This hole could not be more different today,” said coach Mic Potter regarding number 11. “The last two days she has hit a seven or eight iron into the green and today she couldn’t get it there with a seven wood. The wind and rain are really making it tough out here.”

A chip shot on number 13 that ran 14 feet past the hole put Jackson at four over on the day, but the senior from Belton, S.C. was still feeling optimistic. “I knew I wasn’t playing great, but I thought four over was really okay, given the conditions,” said Jackson. “I just wanted to hold it together and not make any big mistakes.”

Unfortunately for Jackson, that big mistake was waiting right around the corner at number 16. Jackson’s second shot, a five wood aimed at a landing area on the 497-yard par five, was well hit and headed in just the right direction. When Jackson walked down to hit her third shot, however, the ball could not be found. Apparently it failed to clear a mound that curved out into the fairway and was covered with three-foot high grass. Six sets of eyes looked for five minutes, but the ball was never found.

As Jackson returned to the spot of her previous shot she was still upbeat. “I was thinking hit a good shot, just lay it up there, and get out with a double bogey.” This time, however, the rain came into play as the club turned in her hand on the downswing and the ball dribbled off into the high rough. It took two shots to get the ball back in the fairway and from there Jackson carded a 10 on the hole.

“I remember making a 13 on a hole back when Mic (Potter) was recruiting me,” says Jackson, “but nothing that bad since then.”

The frustration of hole 16 was parlayed into a double bogey on 17 and a bogey on 18, making Jackson eight over on the final three holes. Jackson will tee off at 1:50 p.m. on Wednesday at the Kampen Golf Course for the second round of the 72-hole National Championship.