Dec. 5, 2008

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Angela Oh continued to pace former Lady Vol golfers on day three of the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament on Friday at the LPGA International golf course.

Former Tennessee women's golfers Oh, current volunteer assistant coach Young-A Yang, Jessica Shepley and Violeta Retamoza are competing to either earn or improve their current LPGA membership status at the five-day, 90-hole event.

Oh shot a 2-over, 74 and is in a tie for 56th place with a total score of 72-71-74=217 (+1).

Yang rebounded from an 80 on day two to fire a 75 on Friday. A four-time All-American at UT, Yang is tied for 114th with a total score of 70-80-75=225 (+9).

Shepley carded a 78 on day three and will take a total score of 76-73-78=227 (+11) into day four. She is tied for 125th.

Retamoza had the best round of the day among former Lady Vols, shooting a 1-under, 71. She is tied for 135th with a total score 77-82-71=230 (+14).

The 140-person field will be cut in half to 70 after Saturday's fourth round. The final round will be played on Sunday.

The top 20 players at the conclusion of the event will earn Priority in Category 11 LPGA memberships. Players finishing 21st through 30th will receive Priority in Category 16, while players finishing between 31st and 40th places will earn Priority in Category 20.

Molly Fankhauser sits alone atop the leaderboard after carding a 6-under, 66 on Friday. She has a total score of 67-71-66=204 (-12) and is one shot ahead of Shiho Oyama.

Yang and Retamoza have both been regulars on the LPGA Tour over the last few years, while Shepley already earned her LPGA card by finishing seventh on the 2008 Duramed FUTURES Tour money list. She is looking to improve her Priority status.

Oh is looking to make the LPGA for the first time, after playing two years for Tennessee.

The four women are some of the most decorated Lady Vol golfers of all-time. They hold four of the top six lowest career scoring averages in UT history and each earned All-America or All-SEC honors while at Rocky Top.