February 25, 2000

PERRI IN FIRST AT SUNTRUST LADY GATOR

GAINESVILLE, Florida -- Furman sophomore Jennifer Perri fired her first collegiate 69 on Friday to take a three-stroke lead in the SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational in Gainesville, Fla.

Held at the 5,829-yard University of Florida Golf Course, the Lady Gator features a 15-team field currently led by Auburn, which fired a first round 300 to take the early lead. The Lady Paladins are tied with Louisiana State in fifth, 12 strokes behind the Tigers. Alabama is second at 305, with the hosting Gators in third and University of Central Florida in fourth.

In addition to Perri's outstanding round, the Lady Paladins counted a 78 by senior Stacey Burnett, an 81 by sophomore Tara Schultz, and an 84 by freshman Cimmie Shahan. Junior Dara Broadus fired a 79, but is playing as an individual, while freshman Brandi Jackson was the team's non-counter after Friday's 86.

Perri's three stroke lead is over Alabama's Paula Carter and South Carolina's Kristy McPherson. In addition, Florida's Brittany Straza is four strokes back after a first-round 73.

Action continues in the Lady Gator Invitational on Saturday. Furman's Lindsay Smith (Chapin, S.C.) won the Lady Gator in 1999, becoming the first Lady Paladin to do so since Betsy King's victory there in 1976.

Furman Results

1st Jennifer Perri 69

24th Stacey Burnett 78

29th Dara Broadus, Ind. 79

45th Tara Schultz 81

67th Cimmie Shahan 84

71st Brandi Jackson 86