Oct. 15, 2006

Knoxville, Tenn. -- Kathleen Ekey fired a two under par 69 to lead Furman to a final round 292 and a sixth place finish Sunday afternoon at the 10th Annual Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championships in Knoxville, Tenn.

The Lady Paladins placed ahead of five schools listed in the Golf Week Collegiate top 25 while matching its season-best round. Ekey (72-78-69=219) birdied four holes on the way to an eighth place finish and season-best round of 69. The top ten showing was Ekey's third in three tournaments this season.

Fellow sophomore Blair Lamb bounced back from an opening round 81 to post back-to-back rounds of 74. Senior Theresa Paik shot a final round 75 and freshman Ashley Baker posted a three over par 74 for her best round as a collegiate golfer.

Tennessee edged Georgia in a one-hole playoff to claim team honors. Auburn finished third followed by Arkansas, the Swedish Junior National Team and Furman.

Furman concludes its fall schedule October 27-29, at the Auburn Derby in Auburn, Ala.

6 Furman 307 302 292 901

8 Kathleen Ekey 72 78 69 219

T33 Blair Lamb 81 74 74 229

T38 Theresa Paik 78 77 75 230

T55 Monique Gesualdi 79 73 83 235

T55 Ashley Baker 78 83 74 235