Nov. 3, 2003

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. - Kate Stepanek and Marie Harper posted rounds of 73 and 74, respectively, lifting Maryland to a 303 team total and second place Monday after the first 18 holes of the Edwin Watts / Palmetto Intercollegiate women's golf tournament.

Maryland finished the day only two shots behind Notre Dame in the team standings and were atop a tightly-bunched group of six teams that scored within a four-shot span between second and sixth.

Rain forced the suspension of play in the middle of the second round Monday. The teams will attempt to finish the second round and play the final 18 holes on Tuesday.

Stepanek (Guilford, Conn.) was in a tie for fifth individually after her 1-over-par 73. Harper (West Point, Va.) was one shot behind her teammate in a tie for eighth place.

Sapna Patel of host College of Charleston, shot a school-record 68 to lead the individual standings by four shots. Patel shot a 32 on the front nine on the par-72 Kiawah Island Oak Point Golf Course.

Also for Maryland on Monday, freshman Jessica Reno (Wilmington, Del.) was tied for 24th with a 77, Katie Redeker (Pepper Pike, Ohio) shot a 79 to tie for 36th and Kristen Shew (Hockessin, Del.) shot an 81, covering the back nine in 39, to tie for 59th.

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Notre Dame 301; 2. MARYLAND 303; 3. East Carolina 304; 4. Coastal Carolina 305; T5. South Florida, T5. Charleston 306.

INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS
1. Sapna Patel, Charleston, 68; T2. Mary Calderon, South Florida, 72; T2. Adrienne Millican, East Carolina, 72; T2. Katy Heher, Coastal Carolina, 72; T5. Kate Stepanek, Maryland, 73; T5. Stacy Brown, Notre Dame, 73; T5. Jackie Ey, Texas Tech, 73.

MARYLAND SCORES
T5. Kate Stepanek, 36-37-73; T8. Marie Harper, 36-38-74; T24. Jessica Reno, 39-38-77; T36. Katie Redeker, 39-40-79; T59. Kristen Shew, 42-39-81.