Sept. 30, 2004

Oxford, Miss. - Junior Beth Tidmore shot a 588 in air rifle and 572 in smallbore at the Patricia C. Lamar National Guard Readiness Center over the weekend at the annual Ole Miss Fall Rifle Invitational. Tidmore ranks ninth in smallbore and leads the way in air rifle after three days of action.

Sophomore Katie Benjamin ranks fifth in air rifle after totaling a 585, and also ranks eighth in smallbore with a 572. Sophomore Brian Phillips also placed in the top 10 in smallbore, turning in a 573, which was good for sixth and a personal best. In her first collegiate match, freshman Krissey Bahnsen placed 11th in air rifle with a 578, and 26th in smallbore with a 547.

In their best start in the program's history, the Tigers are in second in air (2321) and third in smallbore (2264). Jacksonville State leads the way in smallbore with a 2316 team score and in air rifle with a score of 2326. Host Ole Miss is in second in smallbore with a 2287.

Memphis (co-ed), Jacksonville State (co-ed), UTEP (all women), TCU (all women) were the collegiate teams on hand for the first weekend of competition. Birmingham Southern and Mercer are slated to shoot this weekend before final team scores are tabulated on Sunday.

Joseph Hall of Jacksonville State leads the smallbore field through the first weekend after firing a 593.