Oct. 27, 2009

WINDERMERE, Fla. – Senior George Bryan IV and sophomore Wesley Bryan earned top-10 individual finishes at the Isleworth Collegiate Invitational, leading South Carolina’s men’s golf team to an overall sixth-place showing, their best ever at the prestigious event at Isleworth Country Club.

The Gamecocks shot 295 (+7) on Tuesday to finish at 898 (+34), 14 strokes better than their performance in the same event last year. The sixth-place showing was also significantly higher than the 2008 event, when South Carolina finished 16th in the 18-team field. Carolina’s round on Tuesday was the second-best of the day, only three shots behind Georgia’s 292 (+4).

George Bryan IV turned in his second straight top-10 finish, shooting 70 (-2) on Friday to jump up to fifth place at 218 (+2) for the tournament. The native of Chapin had one of only four rounds under par on the day, carding only one bogey in his final 18 holes to go along with three birdies. It was the ninth top-5 finish of Bryan’s career, moving him into a tie for third place in school history with Eirik Johansen.

Wesley Bryan shot 74 (+2) on Friday to move up two spots to a tie for seventh place, giving the Gamecocks multiple top-10 finishers for the third time in four fall events. Bryan had a mostly consistent round with two birdies and two bogeys, marred only by a double-bogey at the ninth hole. It marks the fourth top-10 finish of Bryan’s career.

Also closing strong for South Carolina was senior Paul Woodbury. The native of Lake City improved by six strokes in his final round, posting a 73 (+1). Woodbury made the turn at 2-over after an opening birdie followed by three bogeys, but then made up ground on the back nine with two birdies against only one bogey.

Senior Patrick Rada shot 78 (+6) on Tuesday, while redshirt freshman Clint Tolleson closed with an 80 (+8).

Top-ranked Oklahoma State shot 301 on Tuesday to hold off Florida for a five-shot victory at 881 (+17). The Gators finished second at 886 (+22), while Stanford was third at 888 (+24). Two-time defending champion Georgia was fourth at 893 (+29), and Alabama was fifth at 896 (+32), only two shots ahead of the Gamecocks.

Alabama sophomore Bud Cauley shot an even-par 72 on Tuesday to hold on for a one-shot victory at 5-under 211 over a hard-charging Sihwan Kim of Stanford. Texas Tech’s Nils Floren and Oklahoma State’s Peter Uihlein tied for third place at even par, two shots ahead of Bryan IV.

With the Gamecocks’ fall season concluded, the team now turns its attention to academics and offseason practice, in addition to various amateur events during the winter. The next team event is set for March 1-2 at the Seahawk Intercollegiate in Wilmington, N.C.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
5. George Bryan IV – 74-74-70=218 (+2)
T7. Wesley Bryan – 71-75-74=220 (+4)
T47. Patrick Rada – 78-75-78=231 (+15)
T50. Paul Woodbury – 80-79-73=232 (+16)
T61. Clint Tolleson – 79-77-80=236 (+20)

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. Oklahoma State – 881 (+17)
2. Florida – 886 (+22)
3. Stanford – 888 (+24)
4. Georgia – 893 (+29)
5. Alabama – 896 (+32)
6. SOUTH CAROLINA – 898 (+34)
7. TCU – 899 (+35)
8. Texas Tech – 900 (+36)
9. Illinois – 901 (+37)
10. East Tennessee State – 908 (+44)
11. Clemson – 909 (+45)
12. Arizona State – 912 (+48)
T13. UCF – 913 (+49)
T13. Washington – 913 (+49)
15. Kentucky – 929 (+65)