Feb. 29, 2000

PINEHURST, N.C. - Freshman Erin Clasper (N. Potomac, Md.) finished in a tie for 31st place while junior Sarah Bedford (Montgomery Village, Md.) recorded a 10-stroke improvement from day one to lead Maryland to a 17th place finish in the Edwin Watts/Carolina's Collegiate Classic on Pinehurst No. 8 at the Pinehurst Country Club. As a team the Terps improved by seven strokes on day two and held the same consistent position in the team standings at which they finished on day 1.

Clasper finished in a tie for 31st place as she shot an 80 during both rounds for a two-day total of 160. Clasper finished in a group of eight players that finished 16-over-par for the tournament. Bedford improved her score by 10 strokes (95 to 85) and improved her position 12 spaces (125 to 113) during the two-day event.

Other Terp performances saw Carter Crowther (Kilmarnock, Va.) shave two strokes off her day one score (84 to 82). Sophomore Brooke Bendler (Salisbury, Md.) was consistent as she shot an 84 during both rounds to finish in 73rd place.

The Terps return to the course in the Northern Illinois Snowbird Invitational in Tampa, Fla., on March 15-17.

Two-time Maryland men's captain Jason Rodenhaver was named as the first head coach in the program's history on Nov. 18, 1998. It was then, just over one year ago, that he began the task of building the brand new program that played its traditional spring event today.

Edwin Watts/Carolina's Collegiate Classic (Final Results)
1.  Kent                621 (+45)     14.  Charleston Southern  653 (+78)
2.  James Madison       625 (+49)     15.  Wofford              655 (+79)
    UNC - Wilmington    625 (+49)     16.  Methodist            659 (+83)
4.  Coll. Of Charleston 629 (+53)     17.  Maryland             669 (+93)
5.  Kansas              631 (+55)     18.  Elon                 671 (+95)
6.  Jacksonville State  634 (+58)     19.  Appalachian State    679 (+103)
7.  Winthrop            635 (+59)    	   Longwood             679 (+103)
8.  Campbell            637 (+61)     21.  Cincinnati           680 (+114)
9.  Georgia State       642 (+66)     22.  Mercer               690 (+114)
10. Kansas State        645 (+69)     23.  Northern Iowa        691 (+115)
11. Alabama-Birmingham  650 (+74)     24.  William & Mary       702 (+126)
    UNC - Greensboro    650 (+74)     25.  Western Michigan     707 (+131)
13. Coastal Carolina    653 (+77)     26.  Radford              714 (+138)

Maryland Individuals (Final Results)
T31    Erin Clasper    80 80 160 +16
T63.   Carter Crowther 84 82 166 +22
T73.   Brooke Bendler  84 84 168 +24
T113.  Sarah Bedford   95 85 180 +36
T122.  Jen Gibson      90 95 185 +41