May 15, 2006

GREENSBORO, Ga. –

The South Carolina men’s golf team jumped three spots on the leader board Monday to finish in fifth place at the Linger Longer Invitational (Par 72 – 7,393 yards), played at Reynolds Plantation’s Oconee Course in Greensboro, Ga. In a 12-team field that featured seven teams who are set to compete in this weekend’s NCAA Regionals, the Gamecocks carded a three-day total score of 885 (293-299-293).

Carolina entered Monday’s final round in a tie for eighth, but moved ahead of Florida State, Missouri and North Florida with a team score of 292.

Senior Eirik Johansen shot a two-under par 70 on the final 18 holes for his best round of the tournament. The first-team all-SEC pick placed eighth on the individual leader board, his sixth top-10 finish of the season and the 20th top-10 effort of his career.

Competing as an individual, sophomore Warren Thomas collected his third straight round at even par (72) today and finished one stroke behind Johansen. The Columbia, S.C., native was ninth, the first top-10 finish of his Carolina career.

Sophomore Mark Anderson also fired an even-par 72 and wrapped up the event with a total score of 218. Anderson placed in a tie for 13th, marking his third top-20 showing of the season.

Redshirt freshman Patrick Cunning shot a final-round 78 to finish at 226 over 54 holes. Cunning wound up in a tie for 36th. Freshman Allen Koon placed tied for 48th with a total score of 299 and freshman Florian Fritsch, a second-team all-SEC selection, tied for 55th with a total score of 231.

No. 1 Georgia won the team title with a three-day score of 855 (285-281-289, -3) and Charlotte finished second with a score of 869 (292-289-288, +6). Charlotte’s Trevor Murphy won a playoff to claim medalist honors with a final score of 211.

The Gamecocks travel from Greensboro to Orlando on Tuesday in preparation for the NCAA East Regional, played May 18-20 at Lake Nona Golf Club. Georgia, Charlotte, North Carolina, Florida State and Georgia Southern will join the Gamecocks in Orlando.

South Carolina Scores8   Eirik Johansen        71-74-70=215T13     Mark Anderson      76-70-72=218T36 Patrick Cunning      70-78-78=226T48 Allen Koon        76-78-75=229T55 Florian Fritsch      78-77-76=231
Individual9   Warren Thomas      72-72-72=216
Team Scores1. Georgia      285-281-289=8552. Charlotte        292-289-288=8693. UT-Chattanooga   297-289-290=8764. North Carolina   286-299-294=8765. South Carolina    293-298-293=8856. Florida State    290-298-299=887T7. Augusta State   309-294-288=891T7. Missouri        293-297-301=8919. Ga. Southern     295-297-300=89210. North Florida   296-295-303=89411. Kennessaw State 299-300-303=90212. Mercer      301-300-304=905