Nov. 21, 2005

EL PASO, Texas – South Carolina sophomore Mark Anderson (Beaufort, S.C.) opened play against the nation’s elite collegiate golfers on Monday in the 31st Annual Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic. The tournament, hosted by the Sun Bowl Association, is played at the Par-71, 6,781-yard El Paso Country Club.

Anderson, who earned third-team All-America honors as a freshman in 2005, was invited to compete in the event. The 2005 Big Ten Freshman of the Year shot a first-round 81, but battled back with a 73 in the second. He sits in 31st heading into Tuesday’s final round. Live scoring can be found online at www.golfstat.com.

In 2005, the Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic ranked as the No. 1 tournament in the country, according to the Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index.

Throughout the years, many Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic competitors have gone on to pursue successful careers in the Professional Golfers’ Association of America and on the PGA Tour. Some of the past champions include Ricky Barnes (2000), Notah Begay (1994), David Duval (1991), Matt Kuchar (1999), Davis Love III (1984), Chris Nallen (2003), Jerry Pate (1974) and Tiger Woods (1995).

Alumni of the Golf Classic have gone on to earn more than $790 million on the PGA Tour. In all, 112 colleges and universities have participated in the tournament, raising more than $540,000 in scholarship money for the participating institutions.

Each university is awarded a $1,000 scholarship if a golfer from that school competes in the tournament.