Feb. 25, 2003

TUCSON, Ariz.

The No. 11 University of Tennessee Lady Vol golf squad moved up to fourth place at the 2003 Arizona Wildcat Invitational in Tucson, Ariz., with a second-round total of 602 (307-295) to close to within 16 shots of new tournament leader Pepperdine. Individually, Arizona's Erica Blasberg and Pepperdine's Carolina Llano overtook Arizona State's Erin Tone for a first-place tie at 142.

A trio of orange-clad golfers sit tied for 20th-place with two-day 150s as team captain Jessica Shepley (Oakville, Ontario, Canada) fired a two-over 73 and freshmen Violeta Retamoza (Aguascalientes, Mexico) and Golda Johansson (Lund, Sweden) carded a 72 and a 76, respectively. Junior Tai Perry (Unionville, Pa.) posted a two-day 153 (78-75) to tie for 36th, while classmate Mary Jan Fernandez (Henderson, Nev.) bounced back with a second-day 75 with a 64th-place tying 159. While weather did not pose a significant problem today, an early morning sprinkle extended UT's current streak of playing in the rain to six tournaments.

UT concludes the Arizona Wildcat Invitational on Wednesday with a shotgun start at 8:00 a.m. MST, before continuing its spring season March 9-11 in Gainesville, Fla., at the Lady Gator Invitational.

Arizona Wildcat Invitational
At Arizona National Golf Club (Tucson, Ariz.)