Sinead O'Sullivan in contention

at Kiawah Island Intercollegiate

Galway's Sinead O'Sullivan, a student at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennesee, goes into the third and final round of the Kiawah Island Intercollegiate women's tournament in joint fourth place, only one shot behind the three leaders.

Two courses are being used - both par-72 - the Oak Point lay-out which measures 5,907 and the Cougar Point course of 6,009yd.

Flame-haired Sinead, pictured right, has scored 74 on both, her latest effort being over the Oak Point course where she birdied the fourth and 10th but bogeyed the sixth, seventh and 16th.

Leading the field are Elisa Aoki (Central Florida) (73-73), Mary Kate Bird (Nebraska) (72-74) and Jessica Yadloczky (Florida) (73-73) on two-over-par 146.

Laura Cutler (Jacksonville State) from Essex and Channel Islander Olivia Jordan-Higgins (Charleston Southern) are sharing 25th place on 153. Laura has scored 77 and 76, Olivia 80 and a much-improved 73.

Gemma Hardie (Central Arkansas) from Scunthorpe is tied for 51st place on 155 after rounds of 78 and 77.

Welsh champion Kristy O'Connor (Ball State) from Burnley dropped out of the limelight with an 82 - seven shots worse than her first-day score over the Oak Point course - at Cougar Point. She had no birdies but a double bogey at the 18th after a scorecard dotted with eight bogeys.

Twice past Welsh girls champion Lucy Gould (East Tennessee State) from Bargoed also had an 82 to drop back to 158.

Clare Leathers (Middle Tennessee State) from Aylesbury has scored 78 and 83 for 161 and a shared of 109th place in the huge field of 215 players.

Laura Holmes (Old Dominion) from Ballina, Co Mayo in Ireland is back in a share of 146th place with scores of 80 and 86 for 166.

Sinead O'Sullivan's good form has put East Tennessee State in contention for the team title.

Miami (605) lead but only one by stroke from East Tennessee State with Central Arkansas (610) in third place, Mississippi (611) fourth, Florida (612) fifth) and Central Florida (613) in one of the biggest ever fields for a team event - 43.

LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS

Par 144 (2 x 72)

146 Elisa Aoki (Central Florida) 73 73, Mary Kate Bird (Nebraska) 72 74, Jessica Yadloczky (Florida) 73 73.

147 Sinead O'Sullivan (East Tennessee State) 74 74, Stephanie Connelly (Central Floriday) 70 77, Emile Guery (Augusta State) 75 72, Nicole Forshner (Central Arkansas) 74 73.

Selected scores:

153 Laura Cutler (Jacksonville State) 77 76, Olivia Jordan-Higgins (Charleston Southern) (jt 25th).

155 Gemma Hardie (Central Arkansas) 78 77 (jt 51st).

157 Kirsty O'Connor (Ball Sate) 75 82.

158 Lucy Gould (East Tennessee State) 76 82.

161 Clara Leathers (Middle Tennessee State) 78 83 (jt 109th).

166 Laura Holmes (Old Dominion) 80 86 (jt 146th).