Bryan Leads Field At Augusta State Invitational

March 30, 2007

Evans, Ga.– Freshman George Bryan IV shot a career best 66 (-6) and is in first place after the opening round at the Augusta State Invitational, played at the Champions Retreat Golf Club (Par72). As a team, the Gamecocks fired a 289 (+1) and are in fourth place with 36 holes remaining. The second round of the tournament is set for Saturday with final round action slated for Sunday.

Bryan, the reigning SEC Male Golfer of the Week, recorded seven birdies Friday, five coming in the back nine holes, to sit alone atop the individual leader board. Bryan’s previous low round was a 68 shot in the opening round of the Corde Valle Intercollegiate on Nov. 6. In firing the 66, Bryan also set a new Champions Retreat record, breaking the record of 68 (-4), formerly held by Augusta State’s Carter Newman, who is a member of the club.

Junior Warren Thomas returned to the lineup this weekend and shot an opening round 74 (+2) to put him in a tie for 39^th. Sophomore Allen Koon matched Thomas’s effort and was at even par through 16 holes before bogeying the final two holes to sit at two-over.

Sophomore Florian Fritsch carded a 75 (+3) to sit in a tie for 52^nd while sophomore Patrick Cunning holds a share of 64^th with a 76 (+4).

North Carolina sits atop the team standings with a 279, a three stroke advantage over second place Coastal Carolina.

The Gamecocks will resume action in Monday morning`s second round. Live scoring is available throughout the tournament at www.golfstat.com or by following the links from Carolina’s official site, USCsports.com

South Carolina Individuals (Through First Round)
1, George Bryan IV, 66 (-6)

T39, Allen Koon, 74 (+2)
T39, Warren Thomas, 74 (+2)

T52, Florian Fritsch, 75 (+3)

T64, Patrick Cunning, 76 (+4)

Team Leader Board (Through First Round)
1 North Carolina: 279 (-9)

2 Coastal Carolina: 282 (-6)

3 Tennessee: 283 (-5)

4 South Carolina: 289 (+1)

5 Georgia State: 290 (+2)

6 North Florida: 291 (+3)

T7 South Carolina-Aiken: 293 (+5)

T7 East Tennessee St.: 293 (+5)