BROWN SUMMITT, N.C. - The East Carolina women's golf team posted an opening round score of 313 (+25) and currently sit in a tie for 20th place at the 2006 NCAA Women's Golf East Regional. The regional, hosted by Wake Forest, is being contested at Bryan Park Golf Club (par 72, 6,386 yards). The 54-hole event began Thursday and ends Saturday, with the top eight teams out of the 21 team field advancing to the NCAA Championships in Columbus, Ohio.

LSU and California each shot even par rounds of 288. Tennessee is second four shots behind, Auburn is third at five-over par and Alabama rounds out the top five with a seven-over 295. Wake Forest is tied for sixth with North Carolina, South Carolina and Vanderbilt.

Alabama's Jenny Chu, on the strength of seven birdies, shot a three-under par 69 to take the individual lead. Mandy Goins (Wake Forest) is tied for second with LSU's Melissa Eaton, Augusta State's Lauren Smith and Tennessee's Marci Turner.

Senior Heidi Helliesen leads the Pirates after the first 18 holes and is tied for 50th after posting a four-over par 76. Emelie Lind is tied for 64th at five-over par, while Freshman sensation Lene Krog is tied for 80th after an opening round of 79.

Second round action begins Friday at 8:00 am. Wake Forest will tee off the first tee beginning at 1:20 pm. Livestats can be found at www.golfstatresults.com.

ECU Individual Scores
T50. Heidi Helliesen (76)
T64. Emelie Lind (77)
T80. Lene Krog (79)
T94. Jamie Quinn (81)
T99. Jessica Hauser (83)

Top Individual Scores
1. Jenny Suh (Alabama, U. of) 69
T2. Melissa Eaton (Louisiana State) 70
T2. Mandy Goins (Wake Forest) 70
T2. Lauren Smith (Augusta State) 70
T2. Marci Turner (Tennessee) 70

Top Team Scores
T1. Louisiana State (288)
T1. California (288)
3. Tennessee (292)
4. Auburn (293)
5. Alabama, U. of (295)