March 17, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina men’s golf team is in second place through two rounds at the Schenkel E-Z-Go Invitational, played at Forest Heights Country Club (Par 72, 6,962 yards) in Statesboro, Ga. The Gamecocks fired team rounds of 295 and 283 Saturday, putting them at two-over par and are 10 strokes back of tournament leader and third-ranked Georgia heading into Sunday’s final round.

On the opening day of the tournament, Carolina was led by sophomore Baker Elmore. The Cheraw, S.C., product is tied for second on the individual leader board after carding rounds of 72 and 69. He is three-under par and three shots behind Georgia’s Chris Kirk with 18 holes to play. The 69 represents a career-low round for Elmore.

The Schenkel’s 18-team field features six teams that are ranked in the latest Golfworld/Golf Coaches Association of America poll. That list includes No. 2 Florida, No. 3 Georgia, No. 5 Alabama, No. 12 Texas A&M, No. 13 North Carolina and No. 17 Tennessee.

Gamecock sophomore Allen Koon and freshman George Bryan IV have joined Elmore in the top-20. Koon is one-under par and tied for eighth after firing rounds of 73 and 70. Bryan shares 19th place with scores of 76 and 71 in the first and second rounds, respectively.

Junior Warren Thomas posted a pair of 74s and ended the day in a tie for 27th. Classmate Mark Anderson opened with a 78 but came back to shoot a one-over par 73 in Saturday’s second round to put him tied for 54th.

The Gamecocks are slated to tee of at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday and will be playing with Georgia and Alabama, who is in third place and two strokes behind South Carolina. Live scoring is available at www.golfstat.com or by clicking on the links from USCsports.com.

South Carolina Individuals (Through Two Rounds)
T2, Baker Elmore, 72-69=141 (-3)
T8, Allen Koon, 73-70=142 (-2)
T19, George Bryan IV, 76-71=147 (+3)
T27, Warren Thomas, 74-74=148 (+4)
T54, Mark Anderson, 78-73=151 (+7)

Team Leader Board (Through Two Rounds)
1 Georgia 287-277 =564 (-12)
2 South Carolina 295-283 =578 (+2)
3 Alabama 292-288=580 (+4)
4 Auburn 289-293=582 (+6)
5 Augusta State 298-287=585 (+9)
6 Florida 290-297=587 (+11)
7 Arizona 306-284=590 (+14)
8 Texas A&M 298-293=591 (+15)
9 New Mexico 299-293=592 (+16)
T10 Michigan State 301-293=594 (+18)
T10 Louisiana State 300-294=594 (+18)
12 North Carolina 302-293=595(+19)
13 Minnesota 299-297=596 (+20)
T14 Ga. Southern 302-297=599 (+23)
T14 Tennessee 297-302=599 (+23)
16 Ohio State 298-302=600 (+24)
17 Kentucky 304-298=602 (+26)
18 NC State 311-297=608 (+32)