April 20, 2007

ST. SIMONS, Ga. – The South Carolina men’s golf team shares sixth place after the first round of the 2007 Southeastern Conference Championship, which opened Friday at Sea Island Golf Club’s Seaside Course in St. Simons, Ga. The Gamecocks navigated the Par-70, 6,991-yard layout with a score of 304, matching Florida, Mississippi State and Auburn. The tournament continues with second round play on Saturday and the third and final round set for Sunday.

Sophomore Florian Fritsch (Munich, Germany) and junior Warren Thomas (Columbia, S.C.) are both in the top 15 on the individual leader board. Fritsch opened with a four-over par 74 and is tied for seventh. Thomas played the first 18 holes at five-over par (75), tying him for 15th.

Junior Mark Anderson (Beaufort, S.C.), who is playing in his third SEC Championship at Sea Island, fired a first-round 77 (+7). He is tied for 31st with 36 holes remaining. Sophomore Allen Koon (Bamberg, S.C.) carded a 78 (+8), battling through four double bogeys, to put him tied for 39th. Freshman George Bryan IV (Chapin, S.C.) holds a share of 46th place after posting an opening round 80 (+10).

Scores were fairly high across the board Friday with only one golfer, Mississippi’s Will Roebuck, finishing under par. Roebuck is the individual leader by three strokes after carding a 69 (-1). The Rebels are the team leader as well after shooting 295.

SEC Championship (Through Round One)
1 Mississippi, U. of +15 295
2 Alabama, U. of +18 298
T3 Louisiana State U. +21 301
T3 Tennessee, Univ. of +21 301
5 Vanderbilt +22 302
T6 South Carolina +24 304
T6 Auburn +24 304
T6 Florida +24 304
T6 Mississippi St. U. +24 304
10 Georgia +28 308
11 Kentucky, U. of +32 312
12 Arkansas, U. of +36 316

South Carolina Individuals (Through Round One)
T7 Florian Fritsch 74 (+4)
T15 Warren Thomas 75 (+5)
T31 Mark Anderson 77 (+7)
T39 Allen Koon 78 (+8)
T46 George Bryan IV 80 (+10)