Nov. 12, 2008

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Former Lady Vol All-American Marci Turner tied for ninth at the Duramed FUTURES Tour's four-day qualifier on Nov. 7 at Cleveland Heights Golf Course.

The Tompkinsville, Ky., native carded a 3-under 285 total (69-75-71-70) on the 6,203-yard, par 72 course and tied with Kristie Smith of Perth, Australia, and Natalie Sheary of West Hartford, Conn.

The 94 players who made the 54-hole cut will receive exempt or non-exempt status for the 2009 Duramed FUTURES Tour season. The number of exempt players will be determined after the completion of LPGA Qualifying School in early December.

Turner was a three-time All-Southeastern Conference honoree and a two-time National Golf Coaches Association All-America selection during her four-year career for the Orange and White. In July, Turner snagged her first professional victory at the Golf Capitol of Tennessee Women's Open Championship in Crossville, Tenn.

Two other former Lady Vols also competed at the FUTURES Tour qualifying tournament. Angela Oh, who competed for UT from 2006-08, tied for 45th with a four-day total of 7-over, 295 (79-71-73-72), while Violeta Retamoza narrowly missed the cut, finishing with a score of 228 (81-76-71) through three days. Oh earned Second Team All-SEC honors in 2007, while Retamoza was a three-time all conference honoree, two-time All-American and the 2005 SEC Player of the Year during her four year career (2002-06) at Rocky Top.

The Duramed FUTURES Tour's 2009 season begins March 20-22, in Winter Haven, Fla., at the inaugural Florida's Natural Growers Charity Classic.

For more information on the FUTURES Tour, go to www.duramedfuturestour.com.