March 24, 2005

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Senior golfer Alex Hamilton collected 155 points and edged freshman Mark Anderson to win the team’s fourth Bandit Award at the Schenkel EZ-Go Invitational March 19-20 in Statesboro, Ga. He joins teammates Anderson and junior Robert Svensson as Bandit Award winners this season.

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. It recognizes the team’s best overall scorer at each event.

“This indicates that Alex led the team in the scoring aspects of the game,” head coach Puggy Blackmon said. “After a double bogey, bogey, double bogey stretch in the middle of the third round, he showed a lot of heart and character by finishing the latter holes under par.”

A native of Aiken, S.C., Hamilton finished the tournament tied for 16th place with a 6-over par total score of 220. He shot a team tournament low-round score of 68 in the second round and went into the final day tied for second place.

“His second round 68 could have been much lower,” Blackmon stated. “Alex gave all indications that he’s back and ready to win.”

Next up for the No. 18 Gamecocks is the Hootie at Bulls Bay Tournament March 27-29 at Bulls Bay Golf Club in Awendaw, S.C.