March 12, 2010

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – South Carolina’s ninth-ranked men’s golf team attacked the par 71, 7,143-yard Southwood Golf Course in the early going Friday, then held on down the stretch to post an opening round of 288 (+4) to tie for third place at the Seminole Intercollegiate.

Sophomore Wesley Bryan and senior Paul Woodbury led the way with matching rounds of 70 (-1) to tie for seventh place through 18 holes. Bryan started off on a tear, carding birdies on three of his first five holes and standing at 3-under through 10 holes. A double-bogey at the 11th and bogey at No. 15 dropped him back to even, but he would birdie the 16th to sign for a 34-36=70. Woodbury had similar luck on the same holes, recording birdies on Nos. 3, 5 and 10 along with a bogey at the ninth to stand 2-under through 10. Bogeys at Nos. 11 and 16, sandwiched around a birdie at the 14th, gave him a round of 35-35=70, his sixth round at par or better this season.

Redshirt freshman Clint Tolleson posted a round of 2-over-par 73 to tie for 29th place. He made the turn at 2-under after a bogey-free 34 on the front nine, but fought through four bogeys on the back side to post a 34-39=73. Tolleson is tied for 29th headed into the second round. Seniors George Bryan IV and Patrick Rada are tied for 40th after shooting rounds of 75 (+4). Bryan IV would birdie his first hole but would not record another amongst five bogeys the rest of the way. Rada was at even par through 12 holes after four birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey in that stretch, but he bogeyed four of his last six holes coming in. Freshman Dean Hester, playing as an individual, shot 78 (+7) and is tied for 59th.

Host Florida State, playing on its home course, holds the first-round lead after an opening 278 (-6), seven shots clear of North Carolina at 285 (+1). The Gamecocks are tied with Baylor for third place at 288 (+4). The Tar Heels’ Jack Fields holds a three-shot lead after an opening 66 (-5) with five players tied for second place after rounds of 2-under 69.

The Gamecocks will once again be paired with the Seminoles and the Tar Heels for Saturday’s second round, which gets underway at noon. South Carolina’s tee times run from 1:20-2 p.m., and live results will be available through GolfStat.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
T7. Wesley Bryan – 70 (-1)
T7. Paul Woodbury – 70 (-1)
T29. Clint Tolleson – 73 (+2)
T40. George Bryan IV – 75 (+4)
T40. Patrick Rada – 75 (+4)
*T59. Dean Hester – 78 (+7)
(* competing as an individual, does not count toward team score)