April 19, 2009

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Freshman Wesley Bryan fired a 1-under 71 in Sunday’s final round to lead South Carolina’s men’s golf team to a tie for fourth place with LSU at the SEC Championship at the Frederica Club. The 11th-ranked Gamecocks finished at 872 (+8) after a 293 (+5) in the final round. Top-ranked Georgia ran away with the team title at 849 (-15).

Bryan put together back-to-back rounds in red figures after a first-round 75 (+3), finishing with a 1-under-par 215 for the weekend. The freshman from Chapin was even par at the turn after two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine, then played the back nine with a pair of birdies against just one bogey to finish at 1-under for the day. Bryan finished in a tie for 10th place in his first SEC Championship appearance.

Junior Patrick Rada made the most of his final round, carding a 72 (E) to finish at 220 (+4) for the weekend, tied for 21st place. Senior Mark Silvers III finished strong in his final SEC Championship, posting a 12th-place finish after a final-round 75 (+3) to finish at even par for the tournament.

Georgia took the team title at 849 (-15), 13 shots clear of runner-up Arkansas at 862 (-2). Florida was at even par on the final day to finish third at 865 (+1), and LSU charged hard on the final day with a 277 (-11) to tie the Gamecocks for fourth place.

Florida’s Billy Horschel was the individual medalist at 206 (-10) after a final-round 71 (-1). Mississippi State’s Carlos Sainz also had three straight rounds under par, including a final-round 69 (-3) to finish at 208 (-8). LSU’s John Peterson was third at 210 (-6).

South Carolina will compete in the Cavalier Classic in Charlottesville, Va., next weekend before learning their destination for NCAA Regional competition.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTST10. Wesley Bryan - 75-69-71=215 (-1)T12. Mark Silvers III - 68-73-75=216 (E)T21. Patrick Rada - 74-74-72=220 (+4)T27. George Bryan IV - 76-70-75=221 (+5)60. Sam Braver - 82-82-76=240 (+24)
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS1. Georgia - 282-281-286=849 (-15)2. Arkansas - 290-283-289=862 (-2)3. Florida - 292-285-288=865 (+1)T4. LSU - 301-294-277=872 (+8)T4. South Carolina - 293-286-293=872 (+8)6. Alabama - 293-286-293=873 (+9)7. Kentucky - 297-285-294=876 (+12)8. Mississippi - 296-290-292=878 (+14)9. Mississippi State - 293-290-301=884 (+20)10. Vanderbilt - 292-293-301=884 (+22)11. Tennessee - 305-292-291=888 (+24)12. Auburn - 301-300-302=903 (+39)