Sept. 24, 2002

NASHVILLE, Tenn. The 19th/21st ranked University of Tennessee Lady Vol golf squad struck out to UT's best-ever start by tying No. 9/12 Ohio State for third place at the Mason Rudolph Championships in Nashville. The top-3 slot, combined with the Big Orange's season-opening title at the Lady Kat, marked the best placements since 2000 when the Lady Vols opened with third- and second-place finishes in the NCAA Fall Preview and the Tar Heel Invitational, respectively.

"The finishes totally depend on the strength of the field we compete against." Head Coach Judi Pavon said. "We know that we can still improve as a team and I look forward to seeing that improvement."

The team fired a third-round 297 to record a three-day 902 total, which placed 24 shots back of tournament champion No. 6/9 Vanderbilt (878). No. 10/3 Arizona finished second with a 54-hole 887. Rounding out the top-five, Furman carded a 916.

"We played a lot better the third round." Pavon said. "We had five solid rounds today. Unfortunately, we put ourselves too far back after the second round to come back."

Team captain Jessica Shepley (Oakville, Ontario) fired a career-best 6-over 222 to tie for fifth, which is her third career top-10 finish. Freshman Golda Johansson (Lund, Sweden) carded a 10-over 226 to notch a 13th-place tie while junior Tai Perry (Unionville, Pa.) recorded an even-par 72 to tie for 17th with a three-day 227. Violeta Retamoza (Aquascalientes, Mexico) completed UT's third-day scoring with a 76 to finish in a 26th-place tie. Mary Jan Fernandez (Henderson, Nev.) registered a 232 to tie for 33rd. Also, playing as an individual, Ryan Kirk (Hixson, Tenn.) tied for 73rd with a 249.

"[Jessica] Shepley, Tai [Perry] and Golda [Johansson] all had another solid tournament." Pavon said.

The Lady Vol golf squad continues its season next month as UT hosts the sixth-annual Mercedes-Benz Women's Collegiate Championships at the Gettysvue Polo, Golf and Country Club Oct. 18-20.

Mason Rudolph Championships
At The Legends Club (Nashville)
Team Scores:
1.	Vanderbilt	302-285-291=878
2.	Arizona	296-287-304=887
3.	TENNESSEE	298-307-297=902
	Ohio State	303-303-296=902
5.	Furman	309-301-306=916
6.	Tulane	316-301-300=917
7.	North Carolina State	307-310-308=925
8.	Mississippi	310-309-311=930
9.	Missouri	322-305-305=932
10.	Northwestern	320-309-306=935
11.	UNC Wilmington	311-314-311=936
12.	Oregon State	314-319-313=946
13.	Stanford	323-313-312=948
14.	Louisiana State	328-319-316=963
Top Score:
1.	Courtney Wood, Vanderbilt	77-68-69=214
UT Scores:
T5.	Jessica Shepley	72-76-74=222
T13.	Golda Johansson	75-76-75=226
T17.	Tai Perry	78-77-72=227
T26.	Violeta Retamoza	76-78-76=230
T33.	Mary Jan Fernandez	75-79-78=232
T73.	Ryan Kirk *	84-80-85=249

* - Played as an individual