May 8, 2009

Gainesville, Fla. -- The Furman women's golf team fired the low round of the day, 10-over par 290, to climb into 10th place after two rounds at the NCAA East Regional at the University of Florida's par-70 Mark Bostick Golf Course on Friday.

The Paladins (305-290=595) trail eighth place Georgia (297-295=592) by just three strokes entering Saturday's final round in the 54-hole tournament. The top eight teams and top two individuals not on an advancing team will move on to the NCAA Championship May 19-22, at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Md.

Alabama (284-291=575) holds an eight-stroke lead over second place Denver and 10-stroke edge on Vanderbilt and Tennessee who enter Saturday's final round tied for third. Virginia, Tulane, Duke, Georgia, North Carolina and Furman round out the top 10 in the 21-team field.

The Paladins, who opened the round in a tie for 14th place, benefited from rounds of even-par 70 from senior Blair Lamb (73-70=143) and sophomore Jackie Hilea (75-70=145). Lamb shot a 35 on both the front and back nine to grab a share of eighth place just four strokes behind individual Camilla Lennarth of Alabama. Hilea notched three birdies to hold a piece of 16th place entering the final 18 holes. Sophomore Stefanie Kenoyer, the Southern Conference Women's Golfer of the Month, carded a second round 71 to move into 24th place at seven-over 147.

Saturday's final round is set to tee-off at 7:30 a.m. Furman, playing with East Carolina and South Carolina, will begin its round at 8:30 a.m. from the No. 10 tee.

Full Results

10 Furman 305 290 595

T8 Blair Lamb 73 70 143

T16 Jackie Hilea 75 70 145

T24 Stefanie Kenoyer 76 71 147

T95 Brie Heinzler 81 81 162

T97 Liz Wendt 84 79 163