April 17, 2009

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Senior Mark Silvers III turned in a 4-under-par round of 68 to tie for second place after one round and lead the 11th-ranked South Carolina men’s golf team to a tie for fifth place at the SEC Championship at the Frederica Club. The Gamecocks shot a 5-over 293 to earn a tie for fifth with Mississippi State through one round of play. Georgia is the team leader at 6-under.

Silvers, who started on No. 10, got off to a blistering start, making the turn at 3-under after a bogey-free first nine that included an eagle at the par-5 15th. Silvers would then sandwich his one bogey at the fifth hole with birdies at the fourth and sixth to finish at 4-under on the day and tied for second place overall.

Patrick Rada had an up-and-down round for the Gamecocks, carding four birdies against six bogeys to finish with a 2-over 74. Freshman Wesley Bryan was a stroke back of Rada with a 75, and junior George Bryan IV was another stroke back at 76 (+4).

The tournament features a field of 12 teams where six of the 12 are ranked among the nation’s top 17. Georgia leads the field and has an eight-shot lead over Arkansas, who shot a two-over par, 290. Florida and Vanderbilt are tied for 3rd (292), followed by Mississippi State and South Carolina (293), Ole Miss (296), Kentucky (297), Auburn and LSU (301), Tennessee (305). Alabama, the defending SEC Tournament Champion, finished the day at 20 over par (308).

Despite windy conditions, all five of Georgia players recorded scores of par or better. Harris English, the 2008 SEC Freshman of the Year, and senior Brian Harman shot a two under par 70 to lead the Bulldogs.

Jordan Blann of Kentucky is the first-round individual leader at five under par (67). He holds a one-stroke lead over Silvers and Florida’s Billy Horschel.

Tournament play picks up again with the second round on Saturday. Sunday marks the third and final round of the 54-hole event hosted by the SEC.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTST2. Mark Silvers III - 68 (-4)T21. Patrick Rada - 74 (+2)T28. Wesley Bryan - 75 (+3)T32. George Bryan IV - 76 (+4)T57. Sam Braver - 82 (+10)
TEAM STANDINGS1.  Georgia            -6      2822.  Arkansas           +2      290T3. Florida            +4      292T3. Vanderbilt         +4      292T5. Mississippi State  +5      293T5. South Carolina     +5      2937.  Ole Miss           +8      2968.  Kentucky           +9      2979.  Auburn             +13     3019.  LSU                +13     30111. Tennessee          +17     30512. Alabama            +20     308