May 8, 2003

JACKSON PACES FURMAN TO FIRST ROUND 307;
TIED FOR INDIVIDUAL LEAD AT NCAA EAST REGIONAL

CLEMMONS, North Carolina -- Furman senior Brandi Jackson carded a three-under 68 in Thursday’s first round of the NCAA East Regional, to lead the Lady Paladins to a 307 team total and tie for 15th-place in the team standings with UNC Wilmington, and Wake Forest. Jackson is tied for first in the individual standings with South Carolina’s Kristy McPherson.

Jackson, the Southern Conference Player of the Year and the runner up at the 2002 U.S. Amateur, set the tone early for her leaderboard topping round, hitting her approach shot on the par four first hole to within four feet and sinking the putt to start the day with a birdie. Jackson added birdies on three additional par fours (holes five, nine and 11), with her only slipup on the day a bogey on the par five fourth hole.

Senior Leigh Turner added a 78 and sophomore Tiarna Harman contributed a 79 to the Lady Paladin effort, while freshman Haley Gildea, playing in her first tournament of the spring, carded an 82 at the 6,114-yard, par 71 Salem Glen Country Club. Gildea started slow, posting an eight-over 44 on the front nine, but fired three-over on the back for her final total.

The top eight teams and two individuals in the NCAA East Regional will advance to the NCAA National Championship, May 20-23, at the Kampen Golf Course in West Lafayett, Ind. Furman is presently four strokes out of eighth and 20 behind the tournament-leading Blue Devils of Duke. The Furman team last made Nationals in 1999 and 2000 was the last time a Furman individual advanced without her team.

Furman Results
T15th Team 307
T1st Brandi Jackson 68
T62nd Leigh Turner 78
T71st Tiarna Harman 79
T90th Haley Gildea 82
106th Cimmie Shahan 93