July 13, 2009

BLUFFTON, S.C. – It was almost back-to-back titles at the Players Amateur for South Carolina golfers as rising senior George Bryan IV finished second at the 10th annual event, which concluded Sunday at the West Course at Belfair Golf Club. Bryan shot 284 (-4) over the four-day event to finish two strokes back of tournament champion Bud Cauley, a rising sophomore at the University of Alabama. Defending tournament champion and former Gamecock Mark Anderson tied for third, one shot back of Bryan at 285 (-3).

Bryan’s tournament started off rough with an opening-round 74 that saw him make five bogeys against three birdies to finish with a 2-over 74. But he put three strong rounds together with a 70 (-2) on Friday, a 69 (-3) on Saturday that included a stretch of four birdies in five holes, and a closing 71 (-1) on Sunday. A pair of bogeys at the 18th on Saturday and Sunday were the difference as eventual champion Cauley carded a birdie on Saturday and par on Sunday, a three-shot swing on one hole.

Anderson, who ran away with the event last year at 22-under to earn a spot in the PGA Tour’s Verizon Heritage, fell just short this year. He opened tournament play with two rounds over par and was in 19th place headed to the weekend. But a sizzling 66 on Saturday that included seven birdies got him back in contention, and a closing 71 vaulted him to a tie for third place with Georgia Tech junior John Tyler Griffin.

Recent Carolina graduate Mark Silvers III finished tied for 33rd at 298 (+10), and rising senior Patrick Rada tied for 55th at 306 (+18).