March 15, 2004

AIKEN, S.C. — Led by the play of sophomore Eirik Johansen, who carded rounds of 67 and 68 on the opening day of play to take over the individual lead, the South Carolina men’s golf team stormed to a 12-stroke lead after 36 holes of play at the Palmetto Intercollegiate. The 54-hole tournament is being contested at the par-71, 6,380-yard Palmetto Golf Club in Aiken, S.C.

As a team, the Gamecocks finished with rounds of 278 and 281, the two lowest rounds of the tournament, to stand at 9-under-par, 278-281=559. That score is 12 shots better than Coastal Carolina, which is in second place at 3-over-par, 282-289=571.

In the individual standings, Johansen led a trio of South Carolina players in the top 10 with his performance. His 36-hole score of 7-under-par, 67-68=135 gives him a one shot lead over teammate Martin Rominger entering Tuesday’s final round. Rominger finished the day with a total of 6-under-par, 70-66=136. The second-round 66 was a season low for Rominger.

Junior Alex Hamilton is the third Gamecock in the top 10, as he is tied for 10th with a 36-hole score of even-par, 69-73=142. Sophomore Jake Thompson is the next South Carolina player in the field, as he tied with four other players in 23rd place at 72-74=146.

Rounding out the Gamecock contingent in the field are sophomores Robert Svensson and Matt Robinson. Svensson is tied for 42nd place at 76-74=150, while Robinson, who is competing in the event as an individual, is tied for 33rd place at 72-76=148.

The Palmetto Intercollegiate will conclude on Tuesday with the final round of play. Full tournament results www.pacersports.com.

TEAM SCORES AFTER 36 HOLES1.  South Carolina  278-281=5592.  Coastal Carolina    282-289=5713.  USC-Aiken   287-285=5724.  Memphis 292-285=5775.  Virginia Tech   289-289=5786.  Purdue  296-283=5797.  Furman  282-302=5848.  Maryland    292-299=5919.  South Florida   297-297=59410. Coll. Of Charleston 294-304=59811. VCU 295-305=60012. Navy    304-298=60213. Florida State   298-308=60614. Presbyterian    312-298=610
TOP-10 INDIVIDUALS1.  Eirik Johansen, South Carolina   67-68=1352.  Martin Rominger, South Carolina 70-66=1363.  Buddy Davis, Furman 67-71=1384.  David Jeans, Memphis    70-69=139    Moises Cobo, Coastal Carolina   68-71=1396.  Shiv Kapur, Purdue  71-70=141    Joel Kraner, Virginia Tech  72-69=141    Scott Wise, Virginia Tech   72-69=141    James McGhee, USC-Aiken 70-71=14110. Alex Hamilton, South Carolina 69-73=142    Matt Davidson, Furman   69-73=142
SOUTH CAROLINA INDIVIDUALST23.    Jake Thompson 72-74=146T33.    Matt Robinson*  72-76=148T42.    Robert Svensson 76-74=150*-Competing as an Individual