March 8, 2009

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – South Carolina’s men’s golf team battled gusty conditions at the TPC Myrtle Beach on Sunday and came away with rounds of 303 and 307 to stand in 11th place through 36 holes at the General Jim Hackler Invitational. Scores were high throughout the field as the course played to a 76.96 average, and only two players stand at par or better heading into Monday’s final round.

The Gamecocks got solid performances from senior Mark Silvers III and freshman Wesley Bryan in the opening 36 holes. Silvers fired rounds of 74 and 75 to stand at 5-over and in a tie for 18th place overall heading into the third and final round. The senior had an up-and-down first round, carding six bogeys against four birdies to finish with a 2-over 74. He then opened his second round with 12 straight pars before a double bogey-birdie-bogey-bogey stretch over his next four holes to finish at 3-over for the round, 5-over for the tournament.

Wesley Bryan found the going a bit rougher in his first round, standing at 5-over through 10 holes before staying at level par the rest of the way to turn in a 5-over 77. In his second round, he made the turn at 1-over then double-bogeyed the 10th, but a string of three straight birdies got him back to even par before a bogey at the last to finish with a 1-over 73. He stands tied for 24th at 6-over through two rounds.

Senior Baker Elmore, playing in his first varsity tournament of the year, turned in scores of 76 and 79 for an 11-over-par day, and he stands tied for 50th through 36 holes. George Bryan IV was one shot back of Elmore at 12-over.

East Tennessee State holds the team lead at 11-over after rounds of 293 and 294. Pepperdine is three shots back of the Bucs at 14-over, and Wake Forest is third at 15-over-par.

Individually, the Demon Deacons’ Travis Wadkins is the only player under par (-1) as he carries a one-shot lead into the final round. Right on his heels is NC State’s Matt Hitt at even par, and Zack Bird (Coastal Carolina) and Seamus Power (ETSU) are tied for third at 1-over.

The Gamecocks will look for an improved performance in Monday’s final round, which gets underway for South Carolina at 9:03 a.m. Carolina will be paired with Ohio State and Duke in the final wave of tee times off the 10th tee. Live results can be found at golfstat.com.

CAROLINA RESULTS/MONDAY TEE TIMEST18. Mark Silvers III 74-75=149 (+5)  9:39 a.m.T21. Wesley Bryan    77-73=150 (+6)  9:30 a.m.T50. Baker Elmore 76-79=155 (+11) 9:21 a.m.T55. George Bryan IV    76-80=156 (+12) 9:12 a.m.T76. Paul Woodbury   80-87=167 (+23) 9:03 a.m.
TEAM STANDINGS1.  East Tennessee State (+11)2.  Pepperdine (+14)3.  Wake Forest (+15)T4.     NC State (+21)T4. Coastal Carolina (+21)6.  Kentucky (+25)7.  Augusta State (+27)8.  Lamar (+32)T9. UCLA (+33)T9. Ohio State (+33)11. South Carolina (+34)12. Duke (+40)13. Illinois (+41)14. North Carolina (+42)