March 12, 2011

The State: Tsunami unsettling for Gamecock golfers

Live Scoring

By Wes Todd
Assistant Media Relations Director

BANDON, Ore. – South Carolina junor Wesley Bryan shot rounds of 70-73=143 (-1) on Friday to lead the Gamecocks to eighth place through 36 holes at the Bandon Dunes Championship. The Gamecocks shot team rounds of 296-298=594 (+18) and are just six shots out of the tournament’s top five.

The day began ominously for the 16 teams in the field as they were awakened to news that the devastating earthquake in Japan and the resulting widespread tsunami could have an impact on Oregon’s western coast. However, officials deemed that the course, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean, was on a high enough bluff that the waves would have no effect on the tournament.

Bryan is tied for fourth place through 36 holes of play. His first round started strong as he was bogey-free and 3-under through 10 holes. A pair of bogeys on holes 4 and 6 dropped him to 1-under, but he would get both strokes back with birdies at the seventh and ninth holes. A bogey at his closing hole, No. 11, would leave him at 2-under. Round two started off much the same way with a birdie at No. 13 and an eagle at the 18th to get him to 3-under through seven holes. A stretch of four straight bogeys, though, pushed him over par on the round before a birdie at the ninth pulled him back even. He would again bogey No. 11 to finish the round 1-over and the day at 1-under.

Freshman Blaine Woodruff posted rounds of 75-73=148 (+4) to tie for 25th place through two rounds. He birdied his first hole, the 14th, but made four bogeys over his next 11 holes to drop to 3-over. Another birdie at the 8th got him to 2-over, then he made four pars on his last five holes for a 3-over finish. Round two included an opening birdie, followed by a double-bogey at 13, then an eagle at the 18th to get back to 1-under. He would make one birdie and three bogeys the rest of the day for a 1-over finish.

Dean Hester is tied for 39th place after a 76-75=151 (+7) day. A pair of double-bogeys on the 13th hole – one in each round – were the only major blemishes on an otherwise solid day. He had four birdies to go along with seven bogeys. Logan Harrell shot 79-77=156 and Dykes Harbin posted rounds of 75-82=157.

Washington holds a commanding lead after rounds of 281-285=566 (-10), eight shots ahead of Florida and 15 shots clear of third-place Oregon. The Huskies’ Charlie Hughes leads the individual standings at 135 (-9) after the tournament’s best two rounds of the day. Florida’s Bank Vongvanij and Washington’s Chris Williams are tied for second place, seven shots back.

Round three begins Saturday morning; however, tee times were not released as of this posting. Live scoring is available through golfstat.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
T4. Wesley Bryan – 70-73=143 (-1)
T25. Blaine Woodruff – 75-73=148 (+4)
T39. Dean Hester – 76-75=151 (+7)
T58. Logan Harrell – 79-77=156 (+12)
T66. Dykes Harbin – 75-82=157 (+13)

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Washington – 566 (-10)
2. Florida – 574 (-2)
3. Oregon – 581 (+5)
T4. Oregon State – 588 (+12)
T4. Colorado – 588 (+12)
T6. St. Mary’s – 593 (+17)
T6. San Jose State – 593 (+17)
8. South Carolina – 594 (+18)
9. Vanderbilt – 602 (+26)
10. Loyola Marymount – 614 (+38)
11. Mercer – 615 (+39)
12. Northern Colorado – 617 (+41)
13. British Columbia – 622 (+46)
14. Utah Valley State – 625 (+49)
15. Gonzaga – 629 (+53)
16. Boise State – 640 (+64)