April 3, 2005

AUGUSTA, Ga.– The University of South Carolina men’s golf team placed ninth at the Augusta State University Invitational played April 2-3 at Forest Hills Golf Club (Par 72- 7,231 yards) in Augusta, Ga. The Gamecocks shot rounds of 309 and 308 today for a total score 931 (+67). Host Augusta State edged Georgia by a stroke to take team honors with a 32-over par 896.

“The windy weather combined with the condition of the golf course made it tough to generate momentum,” said head coach Puggy Blackmon. “The tournament was kind of a survival contest. We made a run through nine or 10 holes during the second round, but we let it get away from us coming in.”

Freshman Mark Anderson sat in a tie for fifth place after the first round, but finished the tournament in a tie for tenth. He was South Carolina’s highest finisher, shooting a 79 and a 72 in the final two rounds for a total score 10-over par 226.

Junior Eirik Johansen tied for 38th place with a 19-over par 235, while junior West Streib moved up to a tie for 43rd by shooting a total score 236 (+20). Freshman Warren Thomas shot two rounds of 79 to place in a tie for 55th with a total score 238 (+22). Senior Alex Hamilton rounded out play for the Gamecocks in a tie for 61st place with a 24-over par 240.

Georgia finished the tournament with a total score of 897 (+33), while fellow SEC team Alabama tied for sixth with a 925 (+61). Carolina rival Clemson finished 12th with a 937 (+73).

Georgia’s Chris Kirk took home the individual title by carding a two-under par 70 in the final round. He bettered runner-up Scott Jamieson of Augusta State by three strokes with his winning total score of 217.

The Gamecocks have a two-week break until they travel to St. Simons Island, Ga. April 14-17 for the SEC Championship.

Individual Scores
T10 Mark Anderson 75-79-72 = 226 (+10)
T38 Eirik Johansen 78-75-82 = 235 (+19)
T43 West Streib 81-76-79 = 236 (+20)
T55 Warren Thomas 80-79-79 = 238 (+22)
T61 Alex Hamilton 81-81-78 = 240 (+24)

Team Scores
1 Augusta State 304-302-290 = 896 (+32)
2 Georgia 308-297-292 = 897 (+33)
3 Georgia Southern 305-308-298 = 911 (+47)
T4 Minnesota 320-296-306 = 922 (+58)
T4 East Tennessee St. 303-308-311 = 922 (+58)
T4 Alabama 311-313-301 = 922 (+58)
7 Notre Dame 310-310-305 = 925 (+61)
8 Southern California 316-306-305 = 928 (+63)
9 South Carolina 314-309-308 = 931 (+67)
T10 UCF 315-316-303 = 934 (+70)
T10 Duke 316-312-306 = 934 (+70)
12 Clemson 329-304-304 = 937 (+73)
13 North Carolina 317-305-316 = 938 (+74)
14 Virginia Tech 322-313-304 = 939 (+75)
15 North Florida 314-311-316 = 941 (+77)
16 Wake Forest 318-319-317 = 953 (+89)
17 Toledo 318-317-323 = 958 (+94)
18 North Carolina State 320-321-324 = 965 (+101)