April 18, 2009

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – South Carolina junior George Bryan IV and his younger brother, freshman Wesley Bryan, were a combined 5-under par in the second round of the SEC Men’s Golf Tournament at the Frederica Golf Club. The 11th-ranked Gamecocks shot a 2-under-par 286 as a team Saturday and moved up to fourth place overall at 3-over for the tournament.

Wesley Bryan equaled his low round as a Gamecock with a 3-under-par 69 Saturday to get back to even par for the tournament. He made the turn at 1-over after a bogey at the par-3 eighth, but then went on a tear to close his round with four birdies over his final five holes to card a 69. Wesley Bryan climbed from a tie for 28th to a tie for 12th heading into the final round of play.

The elder Bryan brother put together a similarly consistent round, turning in a 2-under 70 in his second round. He made the turn at 1-under after a birdie at the seventh, then posted two birdies against one bogey on the back nine. George Bryan moved into a tie for 18th place at 2-over for the tournament.

Mark Silvers III, who was tied for second after Friday’s first round, had another good round Saturday with a 73 (+1). Silvers was even through his first nine holes, then birdied the 10th to get to 1-under. A tough double bogey at the 13th and a bogey at 16 dropped him to 2-over, but he ended on a high note with a birdie at 18. Silvers is 3-under for the tournament and still in the top 10, tied for sixth place.

Georgia is lapping the field so far, firing a 281 (-7) to go along with its 282 from yesterday and holds a commanding 10-stroke lead at 13-under. Arkansas almost matched the Bulldogs today with a 283 (-5), but stands 10 shots back in second place at 3-under. Florida is third at 1-over, and the Gamecocks are two shots back of the Gators at 3-over.

Florida’s Billy Horschel sits atop the individual leaderboard after a round of 67 (-5) Saturday got him to 9-under for the tournament. Jordan Blann of Kentucky is two shots back at 7-under, with Arkansas’ David Lingmerth and Mississippi State’s Carlos Sainz tied for third at 5-under. A total of 15 players – a full quarter of the field – stand at par or better heading into the final round.

The final round gets underway at 8 a.m. Sunday with the Gamecocks paired with Kentucky and Mississippi State and going off the first tee. Live scoring is available at golfstat.com, and full results can be obtained at secsports.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTST6. Mark Silvers III - 68-73=141 (-3)T12. Wesley Bryan - 75-69=144 (E)T18. George Bryan IV - 76-70=146 (+2)T24. Patrick Rada - 74-74=148 (+4)60. Sam Braver - 82-82=164 (+20)
TEAM STANDINGS1. Georgia - 282-281=563 (-13)2. Arkansas - 290-283=573 (-3)3. Florida - 292-285=577 (+1)4. South Carolina - 293-286=579 (+3)5. Kentucky - 297-285=582 (+6)6. Mississippi State - 293-290=583 (+7)7. Vanderbilt - 292-293=585 (+9)8. Mississippi - 296-290=586 (+10)9. Alabama - 308-284=592 (+16)10. LSU - 301-294=595 (+19)11. Tennessee - 305-292=597 (+21)12. Auburn - 301-300=601 (+25)