July 4, 2009

PINEHURST, N.C. – South Carolina rising sophomore Wesley Bryan put up a tough fight in the championship match of the 109th annual North & South Amateur Championship, but fell just short to Stanford’s David Chung in the 36-hole final on Saturday, 4 and 3. Bryan led a contingent of five Gamecock golfers that had a strong showing at the historic Pinehurst No. 2 that included George Bryan IV, Mark Silvers, Patrick Rada and Paul Woodbury.

Bryan led at the halfway point of the match as he was 1-up following 18 holes of play on the 7,342-yard, par 71 course that has hosted two U.S. Open Championships. He would go as many as 3-up following the 22nd hole, but Chung would go on a tear, carding birdies on five of his next 13 holes. After taking a three-hole lead to the 33rd hole, Chung would record another birdie while Bryan made bogey, giving Chung the championship title.

The native of Chapin, S.C., had to get through one of his own Carolina teammates to reach the championship final. Rising senior Patrick Rada fought his way through the bracket to the semifinal match on Friday afternoon where he faced Bryan for a trip to the championship. Both would trade pars and birdies on the front nine, but Rada would card back-to-back bogeys on 8 and 9 to Bryan’s pars to put Bryan 2-up at the turn. Bryan would get to 4-up through 13, and then he carded an amazing eagle at the 16th to win the match, 4 and 2.

Rada reached the semifinal by defeating Florida’s Tyson Alexander in 21 holes while Bryan made the final four with a win over Matt Parizale, 2 and 1. Both of those matches took place Friday morning.

Recent graduate Mark Silvers won his first-round match on Wednesday, defeating Ole Miss sophomore Jonathan Randolph, 1 up, but then fell to Chung in their second-round match, 2 and 1.

George Bryan IV fell in his first-round match to Robert Hoadley, 1-up, and Paul Woodbury dropped his match with Penn State sophomore Tommy McDonagh, 2-up.

Wesley Bryan will continue his busy summer as he competes in the U.S. Public Links Championship, which begins July 13 at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman, Okla. Bryan and the rest of the Gamecock golf team will be competing in U.S. Amateur Sectional Qualifying beginning July 21 at various sites.

109th Men’s North & South Amateur Championship
Match Play Results
Pinehurst No. 2 • Par 71 • 7,342 Yards

FIRST ROUND – Wednesday, July 1
(24) Patrick Rada def. (41) Kelly Miller, 1 up
(5) Wesley Bryan def. (60) Scott Harvey, 6 and 5
(47) Mark Silvers def. (18) Jonathan Randolph, 1 up
(59) Robert Hoadley def. (6) George Bryan IV, 1 up
(39) Tommy McDonagh def. (26) Paul Woodbury, 2 up

SECOND ROUND – Thursday, July 2
(24) Patrick Rada def. (56) Ryan Lefevre, 3 and 1
(5) Wesley Bryan def. (37) Ben Weatherly, 4 and 2
(15) David Chung def. (47) Mark Silvers, 2 and 1

THIRD ROUND – Thursday, July 2
(24) Patrick Rada def. (8) Peter Uihelin, 19 holes
(5) Wesley Bryan def. (44) Joe Monte, 3 and 2

QUARTERFINALS – Friday, July 3
(24) Patrick Rada def. (15) Tyson Alexander, 21 holes
(5) Wesley Bryan def. (36) Matt Parizale, 2 and 1

SEMIFINALS – Friday, July 3
(5) Wesley Bryan def. (24) Patrick Rada, 4 and 2

CHAMPIONSHIP (36 Holes) – Saturday, July 4
(15) David Chung def. (5) Wesley Bryan, 4 and 3