May 22, 2003

JACKSON FIRED 76 IN THIRD ROUND OF NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana – Furman’s Brandi Jackson snapped a 32-hole birdie drought Thursday on the seventh hole of the 6,300-yard Kampen Golf Course. On the day, Jackson fired a 76 to move into 79th in the 126-person NCAA Championships field.

Jackson, who hit 11 greens in regulation, started round three with three consecutive one-putts for par. Bogeys on the fourth and fifth holes sent the Belton, S.C. native to two over, but a tap-in for birdie on the par four seventh brought Jackson back to one over on the day. An approach shot that came up short on the ninth hole set the stage for bogey number three, and despite needing just 14 putts over the front nine, Jackson turned at plus-two.

Things got off to a rocky start on the back nine as Jackson missed the green and three-putted for a double bogey on the 517-yard, par five 10th hole. Another bogey on the par four 12th put Jackson at five over, but a string of five consecutive pars were the result of better contact on her tee shots and long irons. The better ball striking finally paid off on the par four 18th, when Jackson’s approach shot stuck two feet from the pin and she rolled the putt in easily for birdie.

“I finally started hitting the ball solid on the back nine,” said Jackson. “Unfortunately, my putting started giving me trouble at about the same time, so I wasn’t making any birdies until I finally hit it too close to miss on the 18th.”

The fourth and final round of the NCAA Championships is slated for Friday, May 23.