June 10, 2005

COLUMBIA, S.C. – After earning Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year and Golf Coaches’ Association of America (GCAA) All-Freshman honors in 2005, South Carolina freshman Mark Anderson (Beaufort, S.C.) has added All-American to his list of accolades. The GCAA released its All-America teams Friday and Anderson appeared on the third team.

“To make one of three All-America teams is an exceptional accomplishment as a freshman,” South Carolina head coach Puggy Blackmon said. “This certainly provides the foundation for Mark to become one of the most-heralded players in USC golf history.”

Anderson led South Carolina with a two tournament wins and four top-10 finishes in 2005. He tied for first at the prestigious Southern Highlands Collegiate Championship in Las Vegas, March 11-13, before falling in a playoff. The following week, he turned the tables, bringing home medalist honors at the Schenkel E-Z-Go Invitational in Statesboro, Ga., after winning a playoff.

A member of the All-SEC first team, Anderson finished the season with a 73.22 stroke average, the best of any Gamecock golfer. He was chosen the SEC Golfer of the Week on March 16 and March 23.

Anderson is the first Gamecock golfer since 2003 to earn any kind of All-America honor. Eirik Johansen, who just completed his junior season at USC, collected Honorable Mention All-America honors as a freshman. Kyle Thompson was a three-time All-American, 1999-2001, for South Carolina.