May 9, 2003

Live Tournament Updates

LINCOLN, Neb.

The University of Tennessee Lady Vol golf team struggled to a 19th-place finish after an exhausting 36-hole marathon day at the 2003 NCAA Central Regional in Lincoln, Neb. UT posted a 627 (321-306) for the day and must make up an 18-shot deficit to current eighth-place holder Wisconsin during the third round of competition on Saturday to extend the Big Orange's season with a berth in the NCAA Championships. Individually, California's Vikki Laing paced the field with a two-under 140 (69-71) and, along with Wisconsin's Katie Connelly's one under 141 (71-70), is one of only two golfers to produce subpar days.

Junior Tai Perry (Unionville, Pa.) led the Lady Vol effort with a 154 (78-76) to tie for 38th-place, while freshman Violeta Retamoza (Aguascalientes, Mexico) and team captain Jessica Shepley (Oakville, Ontario, Canada) tied for 48th-place with matching 156s. Rookie Golda Johansson (Lund, Sweden) registered an 81st-place tying 161 (83-78), while Mary Jan Fernandez (Henderson, Nev.) finished with a 165 (84-81) to tie for 94th.

The Lady Vols conclude the 2003 NCAA Central Regional Saturday with a 9:30 a.m. (CST) shotgun start.

NCAA Central Regional
At Firethorn Golf Club (Lincoln, Neb.)