Feb. 2, 2005

COLUMBIA, S.C.– The University of South Carolina men’s golf team will travel to Gainesville, Fla. this weekend to participate in the 28th annual SunTrust Gator Invitational.

The 27th ranked Gamecocks are among a field of 15 teams to play at the par 70 University of Florida Golf Course. Participating schools are host Florida, College of Charleston, Florida State, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Kentucky, Louisiana State, North Florida, Ohio State, Purdue, Tennessee, Alabama-Birmingham, Central Florida and Wake Forest.

USC head coach Puggy Blackmon held qualifying play this week for the Gator Invitational. USC’s top qualifier is Mark Anderson, a freshman from Beaufort, S.C. The other three qualifiers are junior Robert Svensson, senior Jake Thompson and freshman Warren Thomas. The two coach’s picks are senior Alex Hamilton and junior Eirik Johansen. Blackmon will announce the final lineup of five golfers prior to the start of the first round.

“This is a very solid lineup with two seniors, two juniors and two freshman,” said Blackmon. “I feel for the first time in several seasons that this is a lineup where any player could win the individual title.”

A practice round is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 4 with two rounds of 18 holes each to be played Saturday. The final round will begin Sunday at 8 a.m.