April 20, 2003

LEXINGTON, Ky.

The No. 10 University of Tennessee Lady Vol golf squad struggled through a windy final day of the 2003 Southeastern Conference Championships in Lexington, Ky., to finish up in third place after leading throughout most of the tournament. Tennessee posted a 911 (291-301-319) to give up a four-shot lead coming out of the turn. Auburn captured the team title with a 903 (299-297-307), while Florida finished in second with a 905 (296-296-313). Florida's Aimee Cho overtook Violeta Retamoza (Aguascalientes, Mexico) for the individual medal with an even-par 216 (72-73-71).

"I am completely and utterly disappointed after today." Head Coach Judi Pavon said. "Our players have not learned that what might look like a bad round can turn into a good round. Bogeys can get the job done at times. We took too many double bogeys and made too many huge mistakes."

Individually, Retamoza fired a one-over 217 (70-70-77) to finish in second-place. The freshman almost overcame a quintuple bogey on the 13th hole, but was denied as Cho sunk a birdie putt on the final hole to secure a one-hole triumph. Junior Mary Jan Fernandez (Henderson, Nev.) matched last season's finish at the SEC Championship with a career-best fifth-place tying 223 (71-75-77), while team captain Jessica Shepley (Oakville, Ontario, Canada) saw her streak of nine-straight Top 15 finishes come to an end as she posted a 231 (71-78-82) to tie for 16th-place. Shepley fell short of former Lady Vol Abby Pearson's standard set in her initial 10 tournaments as a member of the Big Orange.

Tai Perry (Unionville, Pa.) carded a 241 (76-80-85) for a 38th-place deadlock, while Golda Johansson (Lund, Sweden) registered a 255 (84-88-83) to tie for 54th-place.

The Lady Vols now must wait to see where they will be headed for the NCAA Regionals over May 8-10.

Team Scores:
1	Auburn	299-297-307=903
2	Florida	296-296-313=905
3	TENNESSEE	291-301-319=911
4	South Carolina	295-308-311=914
5	Vanderbilt	306-301-312=919
6	Arkansas	297-316-312=925
7	Georgia	299-311-327=937
8	Kentucky	309-311-324=944
9	Mississippi State	317-311-332=960
10	Louisiana State	324-326-325=975
11	Mississippi	319-322-341=982
12	Alabama	318-329-336=983
Top Scorer (field=60):
1.	Aimee Cho, Florida	72-73-71=216
UT Scores:
2	Violeta Retamoza	70-70-77=217
T5	Mary Jan Fernandez	71-75-77=223
T16	Jessica Shepley	71-78-82=231
T38	Tai Perry	79-78-84=241
T54	Golda Johansson	83-88-83=255