June 8, 2006

Two signees for the University of South Carolina men’s golf team finished their respective high school seasons as state champions and have proved they are ready to compete for the Gamecocks.

Patrick Rada, a native of Anderson, S.C. and T.L. Hanna High School student, won the Class AAAA state individual golf title in a resilient come-from-behind effort. He shot a 1-over-par 217 to win by two strokes.

In addition to earning All-State honors, Rada finished second in the South Carolina Heritage Classic Foundation Player Rankings and made the American Junior Golf Association’s All-America Team. He was also one of four players named to the All-Carolinas Junior Team. Off the golf course, Rada is a member of the National Honor Society and was selected to be a member of Junior Leadership Anderson.

Lake City High School’s Paul Woodbury won the AAA state individual golf championship and led his squad to the school’s first ever team title. Woodbury shot a first round 69 and a second round 72 to finish the tournament at three-under-par (141). He was also selected to the South Carolina High School Golf Coaches Association’s ÅAA All-State for the second straight year.

A native of Lake City, S.C., Woodbury finished third in the South Carolina Heritage Player Rankings. He also joins Rada in being named to the All-Carolinas Junior team. Woodbury is a volunteer firefighter and a member of the National Honor Society and the Beta Club in high school.

Both Champions will be freshmen at the University of South Carolina in the fall and will compete next season under head coach Puggy Blackmon.