April 26, 2009

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – South Carolina’s men’s golf team won the 2009 Cavalier Classic on Sunday when the tournament was halted due to a lightning delay in the Charlottesville area. With most of the field still on the course and tournament officials deeming that it would be impossible to complete the round before dark, scores reverted to Saturday’s first round, which saw the Gamecocks hold the lead by six strokes. It marks South Carolina’s fourth team tournament victory of the season, the first time in school history that feat has been accomplished.

According to VirginiaSports.com, play was halted at approximately 3:30 p.m. and would not have been able to be resumed until 5:15 p.m. The Gamecocks, along with Virginia and Francis Marion, did not get their final group on the course until after 1 p.m. and had not yet made the turn when play was suspended. Officials determined there was no way to finish the entire round and awarded the team title to the Gamecocks.

South Carolina won with a team score of 286 (-2), six strokes ahead of host and defending champion Virginia at 292 (+4). Another Palmetto State school, Francis Marion, was third at 294 (+6).

The Gamecocks add this tournament trophy to their three others from the season as they won the team titles at the Mason Rudolph Invitational, the Rees Jones Intercollegiate and the Schenkel E-Z-Go Invitational.

With results based only on Saturday’s play, George Bryan IV finished fourth with a 70 (-2), and three Gamecocks – Wesley Bryan, Patrick Rada and Mark Silvers – tied for 14th with a 72 (E). Patrick Cunning was one stroke back at 73 (+1).

UNC Wilmington’s Josh Brock was the individual medalist with a 67 (-5).

The Gamecocks now await bids for NCAA Regionals, which will be released May 4.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTST4. George Bryan IV - 70 (-2)T14. Mark Silvers - 72 (E)T14. Wesley Bryan - 72 (E)T14. Patrick Rada - 72 (E)T21. Patrick Cunning 73 (+1)
TEAM STANDINGS1. South Carolina (-2)2. Virginia (+4)3. Francis Marion (+6)4. James Madison (+7)T5. Augusta State (+8)T5. Appalachian State (+8)T7. East Carolina (+9)T7. UNC Wilmington (+9)T9. Maryland (+10)T9. Radford (+10)11. Akron (+13)12. Longwood (+15)13. George Mason (+16)14. Liberty (+17)15. Seton Hall (+22)16. Villanova (+24)17. Rutgers (+25)18. Towson (+26)