Oct. 17, 2007

COLUMBIA – South Carolina men’s golf is ranked eighth in the nation this week, according to the Golf World/Nike Golf Coaches’ Poll. The Gamecocks made the biggest move since the last poll was released on Sept. 19, jumping 14 spots from No. 22. Charlotte claimed the top spot in the nation from previous No. 1 Stanford, which dropped to ninth.

South Carolina opened the season with an elite showing at the Carpet Capital Intercollegiate, tying Alabama for first in the event. The Gamecocks followed with a fourth-place finish at The Brickyard Collegiate before stumbling in 12th place at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate. The team has had two players score par or better in each of its last two tournaments, and three Gamecocks have posted career best rounds or tournaments in the last two events. Senior Mark Anderson leads the Gamecocks with a 71.50 average with sophomore George Bryan IV close on his heels with a 71.67 mark.

The No. 8 Gamecocks are back in action this weekend when the three-day Isleworth Invitational tees off in Windermere, Fla., on Sun., Oct. 21.

Golf World/Nike Golf Coaches’ Poll – Division I
1. Charlotte
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma State
4. Georgia Tech
5. Georgia
6. Southern California
7. Florida State
8. South Carolina
9. Stanford
10. Florida
11. UCLA
12. Auburn
13. Duke
14. Wake Forest
15. Texas A&M
16. Chattanooga
17. Michigan State
18. Clemson
19. Lamar
20. Penn State
21. Texas Tech
22. Oregon State
23. UAB
24. Pepperdine
25. Tennessee