May 23, 2003

JACKSON ENDS COLLEGIATE CAREER WITH TWO-OVER 74

WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana – Furman senior Brandi Jackson brought her collegiate career to a close on Friday, firing a 74 in the final round of the NCAA Women’s Golf Championships at the 6,300-yard, par 72 Kampen Golf Course . Jackson totaled 314 in the NCAA Championships’ four rounds, finishing tied for 73rd in the 126-person field.

Jackson got off to a solid start, moving to one-under on the day with a birdie on the par four 11th hole (her 2nd). Needing just five putts over the first four holes, her short game was hitting on all cylinders, but the par three 17th continued to trouble Jackson. A double bogey on the first day, bogey on the second, and par on Thursday, seemed to point to a birdie in the final round, but Jackson pulled her tee shot left, had a chip that came out of the rough hot, and two putted for bogey to move to even on the day. A wayward approach shot, chip and two putt combined to give Jackson her third bogey of the tournament on the par four 18th, and sent the Belton, S.C. native to one over for the round.

In contrast to her first nine holes, which consisted of two bogeys, a birdie, and six pars, the second nine played like a rollercoaster. Though Jackson ended the day with 30 putts and 12 greens in regulation, she made two birdies, two bogeys, a double, and three pars on the front nine (her back) in reaching her two over total.

In her senior season at Furman, Jackson posted a 74.13 season stroke average, which ranks third all time in Lady Paladin history behind Jen Hanna (73.63) and Kristel Mourgue d’Algue (73.70), and just ahead of Dottie Pepper (74.35). For her career, Jackson averaged 76.86 strokes per round, was named the 2003 Southern Conference Player of the Year and became the second Lady Paladin to win an NCAA Regional.

Jackson will remain an amateur through the U.S. Open, which she will play by virtue of her runner-up finish in the 2002 U.S. Amateur. After the Open, Jackson plans on playing five Futures Tour events and then attempting LPGA Qualifying School in the fall.