April 5, 2009

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – South Carolina’s men’s golf team got steady play throughout its lineup and stands tied for seventh place among the nation’s best after one round at the U.S. Collegiate Championships. The Gamecocks shot a 3-over-par 291 Sunday at The Golf Club of Georgia to tie with No. 10 Alabama and No. 14 Georgia Tech through 18 holes of play.

Freshman Wesley Bryan led the way for South Carolina with a 1-under 71 to open South Carolina’s first appearance at the premier event in college golf. Bryan got off to a fantastic start with an eagle on his first hole, then made the turn at 3-under after a pair of birdies and a bogey. An up-and-down back nine saw a pair of birdies but also a double-bogey and two bogeys, but he still managed to finish in red numbers. Bryan is tied for 11th place heading into Monday’s second round.

Patrick Rada was one shot back of Bryan at even par after an opening 72 on Sunday. Rada hit a rough patch toward the end of his front nine with a double-bogey and a bogey, making the turn at 2-over. But back-to-back birdies at 13 and 14 and a bogey-free back nine left him at even par for the day, his second straight round of par or better. Rada is tied for 16th overall through one round of play.

Defending SEC Golfer of the Week George Bryan IV saw his streak of rounds under par come to an end with a 1-over 73 on Sunday. Bryan got off to a great start with a bogey-free front nine, carding a pair of birdies to make the turn at 2-under. But three bogeys on the back, including two straight to end his round, left him 1-over for the day and tied for 23rd.

Mark Silvers III and Sam Braver had similar rounds of 3-over 75, and both are tied for 43rd heading into Monday’s second round.

No. 5 Clemson leads the way through one round after a 5-under 283. No. 22 UCLA is one stroke back of the Tigers at 4-under, and No. 3 Southern California is a stroke behind their crosstown rival at 3-under.

UCLA’s Erik Flores is the individual leader after a sizzling 65 (-7), two shots ahead of Southern Cal’s Matthew Giles and Clemson’s David May.

South Carolina and Clemson will be paired together Monday, along with Georgia Tech, as the three local rivals will go off the No. 10 tee. Tee times for the Gamecocks begin at 11:30 a.m., and live stats can be obtained through golfstat.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTST11. Wesley Bryan - 71 (-1)T16. Patrick Rada - 72 (E)T23. George Bryan IV - 73 (+1)T43. Sam Braver - 75 (+3)T43. Mark Silvers III - 75 (+3)
TEAM STANDINGS1. Clemson (-5)2. UCLA (-4)3. Southern California (-3)4. Washington (-1)T5. Oklahoma State (+1)T5. Stanford (+1)T7. South Carolina (+3)T7. Alabama (+3)T7. Georgia Tech (+3)10. Georgia (+7)T11. Florida (+8)T11. Texas A&M (+8)13. Florida State (+14)14. Indiana (+15)15. East Tennessee State (+18)