March 11, 2006

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The 14th-ranked Lady Volunteer golf team remains in contention for the title at the Lady Gamecock Classic following a sparkling second round on Saturday. Tennessee matched the third-lowest second-round score in program history, 288, and sits only six strokes in back of first-place Auburn.

The No. 6 Tigers moved to the top of the leaderboard after turning in a 10-below-par 278. Their two-day total stands at 582, with the Big Orange on their heels with a score of 588. Virginia is third with a sum of 591, while Florida State holds down fourth place at 597. N.C. State (598), No. 11 Wake Forest (599), Furman (601), Augusta State (606), South Carolina (611), East Tennessee State (622) and Minnesota (653) round out the field.

Freshman Nicole Smith (Riverside, Calif.) fired a scintillating three-below-par and career-best 69 to lead Team Orange. After a rocky start, a bogey and a double bogey in two of the three first holes, Smith settled down nicely. She recorded back-to-back birdies at Nos. 5 and 6, before making the turn at one under following an eagle at the par-five ninth hole. On the back nine Smith stayed hot, sinking three more birdie putts along with making par at five other holes. She entered the clubhouse with a two-day total of 143 and in a tie for second place. The 36-hole sum is the second lowest of her career and keeps her only two shots off the lead.

Golda Johansson (Lund, Sweden) performed admirably for the second straight day. The senior started strong, making par or better at 10 of the first 11 holes. Included in that stretch were birdies at Nos. 1 and 6. Johansson ran into trouble with a double-bogey at the par-four 12th, but she did not rattle. In fact, she finished the round with a flurry, making three pars and two birdies in the final six holes. Johansson signed her scorecard with a total of 72 for the second consecutive round. A two-day result of 144 places her tied for fourth.

After a taxing first day, three-time All-American Violeta Retamoza (Aguascalientes, Mexico) returned to form on Saturday. The senior was on top of her game early, compiling six pars and a pair of birdies to head for the back nine at even par. The 2005 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year's only blemish on the final nine holes, a bogey at No. 12, was erased by a birdie at the par-five 15th. Pars at the other seven holes allowed Retamoza to card an even-par 72, which brought her tournament total to 151 and places her in a 24th-place tie.

Marci Turner (Tompkinsville, Ky.) also improved from day one. The sophomore posted a tremendous front-nine score, even-par 36, after turning in seven pars and a birdie. The back nine would prove to be a bit more treacherous, although Turner overcame a few troublesome spots to finish the day with a three-over-par 75. She is tied for 31st with a two-round summation of 153.

Holly Cantwell (Morristown, Tenn.) had a demanding round. The junior carded a total of 79, although she did not play poorly. Cantwell collected 13 pars on the day, and that effort allows her to share 39th place with a score of 155.

Jennifer Davis (Seymour, Tenn.), playing with lessened pressure as she is competing as an individual, continued to impress. The sophomore obliterated her collegiate-best by carding a two-below par 70. Davis played to the best of her ability as she hit the links on the back nine to start the round, making five pars and a quartet of birdies. She stayed strong on the front nine, stringing together six straight pars before a double-bogey at No. 7 and a bogey at No. 8 slowed her down. Davis, determined to finish on a high note, sunk a birdie putt at No. 9 to cap off an impressive round. She is tied for ninth place with a two-round total of 147. That score is by far the best of her career following 36 holes.

The tournament concluded on Sunday, with action commencing with a shotgun start at 9 a.m.

Team Scores
1.	Auburn	304-278=582
2.	TENNESSEE	300-288=588
3.	Virginia	302-289=591
4.	Florida State	302-295=597
5.	N.C. State	305-293=598
6.	Wake Forest	305-294=599
7.	Furman	301-300=601
8.	Augusta State	314-292=606
9.	South Carolina	314-297=611
10.	East Tennessee State	317-305=622
11.	Minnesota	330-323=653
Lady Vol Scores
T2.	Nicole Smith	74-69=143
T4.	Golda Johansson	72-72=144
T9.	Jennifer Davis (I)	77-70=147
T24.	Violeta Retamoza	79-72=151
T31.	Marci Turner	78-75=153
T39.	Holly Cantwell	76-79=155