Sept. 12, 2008

DALTON, Ga. – No. 19 South Carolina is in a tie for sixth place, seven strokes off the lead, after the first round of the Carpet Capital Collegiate at The Farm Golf Club. The Gamecocks, led by matching 72s from brothers George and Wesley Bryan, are tied with No. 15 Tennessee, and one shot ahead of No. 10 Alabama.

Junior George Bryan IV played steady golf through his first six holes before consecutive bogeys dropped him to two-over just ahead of the turn. A birdie on the par-5 ninth hole set the stage for a rally as he turned in two more birdies over the next four holes to get to one under. The Gamecocks’ leading returning scorer dropped a stroke on the par-5 15th before closing the round with three pars to finish in a tie for 14th place.

George shares that standing with younger brother Wesley, a freshman. Wesley took a more circuitous route to his even-par 72 than George as the younger Bryan made the turn at three over. A bogey on the par-3 11th hole set him back another stroke before he tore through a streak of five birdies in the final seven holes, including the par-4 ninth hole, which sealed his share of 14th place.

Senior Allen Koon also rallied late to card a hard-fought 73 (+1) and sit in a tie for 22nd place. He battled early with bogeys on four straight holes before a birdie on the par-4 sixth hole got things turned around. Another birde on No. 9 had him making the turn at two-over. Like Wesley, Koon bogeyed No. 11 but came back with an eagle on the par-5 15th hole to salvage the 73.

Like Koon, senior Mark Silvers III struggled on the front nine. A series of five straight bogeys had him making the turn at five-over, and a bogey on the par-4 10th dropped him to six-over before he leveled off to card seven pars. He capped his round with a birdie to finish at 77 (+5) and in 64th place.

Junior Paul Woodbury rounded out the team for South Carolina, scoring 78 (+6) to sit in a tie for 75th place. He carded a pair of birdies but turned in double-bogey on four holes, including two of the last three.

Overall, No. 18 East Tennessee State is the first-round leader, finishing at 287 (-1) to sit two strokes ahead of Central Florida. Mississippi, No.6 Clemson and Chattanooga round out the top five heading into Saturday’s second round. Central Florida’s Blayne Barber posted a 68 (-4) to pace the field and sit one shot up on Mississippi’s Jesse Speirs and Clemson’s Sam Saunders.

Play resumes on Tuesday morning. The Gamecocks’ tee times begin at 10 a.m. Carolina’s playing partners will be Clemson and Auburn.