October 30, 1999

Release: Upon Receipt

WAKE FOREST HOLDS SLIM LEAD IN LADY PALADIN

GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- After stunning the field with a tournament-low 295 on Friday, the unranked Demon Deacons of Wake Forest secured their position atop the Lady Paladin Invitational leaderboard with a second-round 305 Saturday at the Furman University Golf Course. The Deacons' two-day total of 600 is six strokes better than seventh-ranked Texas and 15 strokes ahead of South Carolina and Auburn, ranked 17th and 11th, respectively.

Individually, Kristin Dufour of Texas, Celeste Troche of Auburn, Georgia's Shauna Estes, and Tulane's Pam Buff are tied for the lead at 145. Buff had the day's low round on Saturday, carding a two-under 70 despite breezy conditions and tricky greens. Dufour recorded an even-par 72, while Troche and Estes each shot 73. Maria Beautell of Wake Forest, the round one leader, carded a 76 and is in second at 146, one stroke out of the lead.

The host Lady Paladins were tied for second at 306 after Friday's opening round, but struggled to a 316 on Saturday and fell into seventh with a 622 two-round total. Freshman Brandi Jackson of Belton, S.C., was low for the Lady Paladins with a 76 and is in 22nd individually, with a 155 tally. Sophomore Jennifer Perri, who was one stroke out of the lead after Friday's round, carded an 82 on Saturday and is 14th at 153. Sophomore Tara Schultz fired 79 and is in 29th, while Cimmie Shahan moved into 57th with her 79 and Sarah Johnston dropped into 86th with an 89.

Action concludes in the 29th Annual Lady Paladin Invitational on Sunday, with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. The top four teams will begin on holes one, two, and three, while Georgia, TCU, Tulane, and Furman tee off on holes four, five, and six. Three teams are within 15 strokes of Wake Forest's lead.

Furman Results

14th Jennifer Perri 71-82=153

22nd Brandi Jackson 79-76=155

29th Tara Schultz 78-79=157

57th Cimmie Shahan 83-79=162

86th Sarah Johnston 78-89=167