Dec. 22, 2003

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina head men’s golf coach Puggy Blackmon announced on Monday the signing of three players to national letters of intent. Included in the strong group are AJGA Polo Golf Junior All-American Warren Thomas of Columbia, S.C., Mark Anderson of Beaufort, S.C., and Patrick Cunning of Aiken, S.C.

“We are very excited about our 2004 recruiting class,” said Blackmon. “I think we were able to put together one of the best classes in the nation and we certainly signed three of the very best players available. The state of South Carolina had a wealth of talent this year and we got the cream of the crop.”

Heading up the group will be Thomas, who was an honorable mention AJGA Junior All-American in 2003 after capturing individual medalist honors at the AJGA Dunlop Carolina Junior Championship in June. He also was a U.S. Junior Championship qualifier this past year and won the Capital City Classic High School Invitational for the second-straight year. Thomas also holds a pair of other junior titles on his resume, including the 2002 Westfield PGA Junior Carolinas Qualifier and the 2001 World Junior Golf Cup. An outstanding all-around student-athlete, he was a member of the 4.0 honor roll at Richland Northeast High School all four years and a member of the Latin Club for three years.

The second member of the group is Anderson, who turned in a solid 2003 season, winning the South Carolina State High School Championship and the South Carolina Junior Championship, earning SCISA All-Region honors each year since 1999. He finished second at the junior Rice Planters Championship in 2003 and reached match play at the AJGA Polo Junior Classic. Anderson recorded a pair of top-five AJGA national finishes, including ties for fifth at both the AJGA HP Boy’s Championship and at the Hargray Junior Classic. Anderson finished the year ranked fourth in the state by the Heritage Classic Foundation. Also a solid student, he is a member of both the National Honor Society and the Latin National Honor Society, while also being a part of the Beaufort Academy’s three-time High School State Debate team champions.

The final member of the three-man class is Cunning, who was both an All-State and All-Region selection as a junior in 2003. He finished fifth at the 4A State Championship this past year, while being named South Aiken High School’s Most Valuable Player. Cunning recorded a number of top-10 finishes during the past year, including a tie for third at the Junior Azalea and ties for sixth at The Blade, the Players Championship and the Cheraw State Park Fall Challenge. He also tied for ninth at the Junior Rice Planters Championship. An all-around student-athlete, Cunning is a member of both the National Honor Society and the Beta Club, while also being involved in Young Life.

“We have been following the development of these three for several years,” said Blackmon. “They are all very talented both athletically and academically and just outstanding young people from wonderful families. All of them will be great additions to our program.”