Feb. 23, 2010

NEW LONDON, N.C. – Freshman Dean Hester finished in 11th place at the Johnny Palmer Invitational on Tuesday as four individuals from the South Carolina men’s golf team competed in the 36-hole event at Old North State Golf Club.

Hester had rounds of 78-77=155 (+11) to post the top finish among the Gamecock junior varsity “Garnet Team” players in the field. He tied with four others at 11-over for the two-day event.

Junior walk-on Chase Liebler turned in the strongest round of his brief collegiate career with a 1-over-par 73 on Tuesday, a 15-shot improvement over his first-round score of 88. He vaulted up the leaderboard from a tie for 61st place after Monday’s round to a tie for 33rd after completing play Tuesday.

Freshman Dykes Harbin was five strokes better on Tuesday, posting a 77 to finish at 159 (+15) overall and tied for 23rd place. Senior Bryan Miller matched Harbin’s round with a 77 of his own and finished the two-day tournament at 160 (+16).

Lenoir-Rhyne’s Jason Garrett won the event by eight strokes as the only player under par at 141 (-3). Guilford’s Peter Latimer and Pfeiffer’s Cameron Fields tied for runner-up honors at 149.

The Gamecock varsity will open its spring season next Monday, March 1, as they compete in the Seahawk Invitational in Wilmington, N.C.

South Carolina Results

T11. Dean Hester – 78-77=155 (+11)
T23. Dykes Harbin – 82-77=159 (+15)
T31. Bryan Miller – 82-77=160 (+16)
T33. Chase Liebler – 88-73=161 (+17)
Note: All competed as individuals; no team score