March 8, 2004

MURRELLS INLET, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s golf team struggled on the opening day of play at the General Jim Hackler Invitational, finishing with a team score of 18-over-par to stand in 13th place after the first round of play in Murrells Inlet, S.C. The day’s second round of competition over the par-72, 6,950-yard TPC of Myrtle Beach layout was suspended by darkness and will be concluded on Tuesday.

The Gamecocks posted the team score of 18-over-par, 306 in the first round and trailed team leader Pepperdine (292) by 14 shots when play was halted, as no teams in the field were able to break par on the opening day.

In the individual standings, junior Martin Rominger, who is tied for 22nd place after an opening-round score of 36-39-75, led the Gamecocks. That total is five shots off the pace of individual leaders Bill Haas of Wake Forest (35-35-70), Michael Putnam of Pepperdine (37-33-70), and Kevin O’Connell of Virginia (36-34-70) who were among just eight players to reach red figures in the first round.

The next South Carolina individual in the field is junior Jake Thompson, who is tied for 32nd place at 37-39-76. Sophomore Robert Svensson, who is tied for 46th place at 39-38-77 and junior Alex Hamilton is 58th place at 41-37-78, follow Thompson.

The final two members of the Gamecock contingent in the field are sophomore Eirik Johansen and junior Matt Robinson, both of whom are tied for 76th place with scores of 42-38-80 and 41-39-80 respectively. Robinson is competing in the event as an individual.

The General Jim Hackler Invitational will conclude on Tuesday with the resumption of the second round and the final round of competition. Full tournament results are available at www.coastal.edu/athletics.

TEAM SCORES AFTER 18 HOLES1.  Pepperdine  2922.  Wake Forest 2973.  Virginia    299    ETSU    2995.  Virginia Tech   3016.  UCF 302    Arkansas    302    Furman  302    Louisville  30210. Kansas State    30311. South Alabama   30412. UT-Arlington    30513. South Carolina  30614. East Carolina   308    Charlotte   30816. Coastal Carolina    30917. Michigan    31118. Long Beach State    314    Coastal Carolina B  314
TOP-10 INDIVIDUALS AFTER 18 HOLES1.  Bill Haas, Wake Forest  35-35-70    Michael Putnam, Pepperdine  37-33-70    Kevin O'Connell, Virginia   36-34-704.  Charlie Woo, Louisville 33-38-71    Tyrone Mordt, UTA   35-36-71    Randy Creighton, Pepperdine 35-36-71    Pat Stolpe, Coastal B   36-35-71    Scott Wise, Virginia Tech   36-35-719.  Seth Murphy, Arkansas   37-35-7210. Three players tied at 73
SOUTH CAROLINA INDIVIDUALST22.    Martin Rominger 36-39-75T32.    Jake Thompson 37-39-76T46.    Robert Svensson 39-38-77T58.    Alex Hamilton 41-37-78T76.    Eirik Johansen   42-38-80    Matt Robinsin*  41-39-80*-Competing as an individual.