April 8, 2006

TEMPE, Ariz. – The South Carolina men’s golf team shot a team score of 288 on Saturday in the first round of the Arizona State University Thunderbird Invitational, played at Karsten Golf Club (Par 71 -7,017 yards) in Tempe. Ariz. USC is in 11th place entering Saturday’s second round. Results for the second round will not be made available until late Saturday night.

Senior Eirik Johansen (Stavanger, Norway) led the Gamecocks with two-under par round of 69 and sits in a tie for seventh through 18 holes. Freshman Florian Fritsch (Wiesloch, Germany) and sophomore Mark Anderson (Beaufort, S.C.) opened the tournament with even par 71s, good for a tie for 24th place. Freshman Allen Koon fired a 77 and is tied for 74th, while redshirt freshman Patrick Cunning (Aiken, S.C.) rounded out the Carolina effort with an 80.

The ASU Thunderbird Invitational concludes on Sunday with the final 18 holes.

First Round (ASU Thunderbird Invitational)11   South Carolina           288T 7    Erik Johansen            33- 36      69T 24    Florian Fritsch          32- 39      71T 24    Mark Anderson            35- 36      71T 74    Allen Koon               35- 42      7780    Patrick Cunning          36- 44      80