Feb. 14, 2005

COLUMBIA, S.C.-Mark Anderson’s performance at the 28th annual SunTrust Gator Invitational in Gainesville, Fla. Feb. 4-6 helped him capture the men’s golf team’s first Bandit Award of the season. A freshman from Beaufort, S.C., Anderson earned a point total of 160 to edge runner-up Eirik Johansen’s total of 147.

The Bandit Award is a sophisticated point system based on one-putts, chip-ins, holes under par and each round’s score in relation to the field.

“The Bandit Award recognizes the overall best performer in each event,” stated Head Coach Puggy Blackmon. “It places an emphasis on the scoring aspect of the game and should bring a little excitement to each round.”

Anderson earned the first top-five finish of his collegiate career by placing in a tie for fifth at the Gator Invitational.