Oct. 5, 2009

DAUFUSKIE ISLAND, S.C. – DAUFUSKIE ISLAND, S.C. – South Carolina senior Paul Woodbury is the only player under par at the Rees Jones Intercollegiate as he holds a three-shot lead after 36 grueling holes on Monday. The Gamecocks, meanwhile, hold a commanding 22-stroke lead after the first two rounds as they stand at 580 (+4) at the Rees Jones Signature Course at Haig Point.

Carolina struggled – as did the rest of the field – in the early going with conditions less than favorable in the South Carolina lowcountry. However, the Gamecocks held the lead with a 300 (+12) in the first round. They would increase that lead dramatically with a 20-stroke improvement in the second round, shooting an 8-under 280 to take a huge lead into Tuesday’s final round. They will look to clinch their second straight Rees Jones Intercollegiate title after winning by 21 strokes last year.

Woodbury and the rest of the field slogged their way around a wet, 7,380-yard course on a rainy Monday in South Carolina, yet Woodbury – the co-medalist at last year’s Rees Jones – appeared to be the only one in the field able to withstand the elements for 36 holes. The senior from Lake City shot an opening-round 75 that began and ended with back-to-back bogeys, but in the 14 intervening holes, he managed three birdies against one bogey to finish at 3-over. His second round, however, was a different story – he stayed bogey-free through all 18 holes, putting together a stretch of three birdies in four holes on Nos. 15, 16 and 18. His 68 equaled the low round of the tournament and the best of his career as he stands at 2-under heading into the final round, three shots clear of the field.

But fellow senior George Bryan IV is the first one trying to catch his teammate. The native of Chapin is alone in second place at 1-over after rounds of 74-71=145. Bryan’s first round included three bogeys and a double along with three birdies, but he coupled four birdies along with three bogeys in his second 18 to post a 1-under round and climb the leaderboard.

Patrick Rada, Carolina’s third senior, shared the lead after the first round with an opening 73 in the rain. He was all over the place in his opening 18, carding four birdies along with three bogeys and one double to finish at 1-over. He was much more consistent on his second 18, save for a stretch of three straight bogeys on the back nine; however, he finished with a 75 (+3). He is tied for seventh place at 4-over heading into the final round.

Sophomore Wesley Bryan and redshirt freshman Clint Tolleson are tied for 15th place at 7-over par. Bryan opened with a 79 but fired an even-par 72 in the second round. Tolleson’s swing was even more dramatic. He struggled to an opening-round 82, but followed that up with a 69 – one of only three rounds in the 60s all day – to jump back into the top 20.

Jacksonville’s Bobby Fredeking and Pepperdine’s Shane Mason are tied for third place at 2-over, and another two players are tied for fifth place at 3-over. In the team standings, Kennesaw State is in second place at 26-over, with Michigan State in third position at 31-over.

The Gamecocks completed their second round before play was suspended due to darkness with seven players still on the course. Those players will complete their second round at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday before the final round gets underway at 8:30 a.m. Tee times will be posted at that time. Fans can follow live scoring through golfstat.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
1. Paul Woodbury – 74-68=142 (-2)
2. George Bryan IV – 74-71=145 (+1)
T7. Patrick Rada – 73-75=148 (+4)
T15. Clint Tolleson – 82-69=151 (+7)
T15. Wesley Bryan – 79-72=151 (+7)

TEAM STANDINGS
1. SOUTH CAROLINA (+4)
2. Kennesaw State (+26) *
3. Michigan State (+31)
T4. UNC Wilmington (+32)
T4. Pepperdine (+32)
6. Georgia State (+38) *
T7. Mercer (+39) *
T7. Jacksonville (+39)
9. San Jose State (+47)
10. Coll. of Charleston (+48)
11. Tennessee State (+57) *
12. Winthrop (+62) * * = Second round incomplete